The Swedish North Star, continuously published since 1872. Volume 146 No. 5, April 01, 2018. Price per copy $3.50.
tales from the opera Beautiful old buildings of great historical importance are usually honored and maintained with care, while they are also overflowing with a long history of intrigue. This is certainly true of the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm, a majestic neo-classical building that stands near the Royal Palace. The founding patron himself met his fate there at a masquerade ball, setting the scene for many memorable moments long after the curtain went down. Even today, behind-the-scenes is a world not much known by the regular opera-goer. There are a lot of stories that are rarely told outside the opera, even in Stockholm, but we have a few of them, collected on / P18
a radical review
of the 1966 movie Persona, considered by many to be director Ingmar Bergman’s masterpiece. / P21
Dillkött—a not so common savory classic Swedish dish for the brave/ p12
A Florida Pioneer—’founding father’ of St. Petersburg/ p14
dashboard | april 01, 2018 SCANDINAVIAN QUIZ
about 10% of Sami are today 1 Only connected to what cultural livelihood? A) coastal fishing B) fur trapping C)
6 Which famous Danish philosopher said: “Anxiety
2 What is the name of Swedish author August Strind-
of what nation? A) Nova Scotia B) Iceland C) Greenland D) Newfoundland
reindeer herding D) handicraft
7 Leif Eriksson landed on “Vinland” which is part
berg’s last home? A) The Red Room B) The Blue Tower C) Berns Salonger D) Hemsö
8 How many years do the U.S. and Sweden rec-
Lapland is a province in northernmost Sweden, a name that is probably borrowed from the Finnish lappalainen meaning “wilderness in the north.” The derivative labels, Lapps or Laplanders, were popular as terms for people who lived in the north, but they are Sami and refer to themselves as Sámit (the Sámis) or Sápmelaš (of Sámi kin). They are the oldest indigenous people of Europe, in what is known as the nation of Sápmi, population 80,000, stretching across parts of Norway and Sweden, Finland and Russia and having nine closely related languages. The sights and sounds of their ancient culture, unique craftwork traditions and language live side by side with modern technology today, though traditionally the Sami made their living from herding reindeer, fishing, livestock farming and hunting. They have been there since ancient times and have earned their “immemorial rights” to use it; however, landowners are forcing the Sami from those livelihoods, arguing that modern reindeer heritage differs too much from the past. (See page 9 for details on the photo exhibit Sami - Walking with Reindeer.) The Sami have been one people throughout history, but the idea of Sápmi as a nation didn’t gain acceptance until the 1970s. It wasn’t until 1986 that a flag was created, a national song was written, and the date of February 6 was chosen as Sami National Day – recognizing the day in 1917 when the first Sami congress was held and Norwegian and Swedish Sami came together to seek solutions for common problems.
Name’s Days of the Swedish Calendar Namnsdagar i april
April 1 April 2 April 3 April 4 April 5 April 6 April 7 April 8 April 9 April 10 April 11 April 12 April 13 April 14 April 15 April 1
Harald/Hervor Gudmund/Ingemund Ferdinand/Nanna Marianne/Marlene Irene/Irja Vilhelm/Helmi Irma/Irmelin Nadja/Tanja Otto/Ottilia Ingvar/Ingvor Ulf/Ylva Liv Artur/Douglas Tiburtius Olivia/Oliver |
New York Chicago Stockholm Kiruna Lund Los Angeles 2 NORDSTJERNAN
Sunrise & Sunset
6.39 am 6.33 am 6.14 am 5.49 am 6.38 am 6.40 am
7.20 pm 7.16 pm 7.30 pm 7.38 pm 7.44 pm 7.13 pm
contest with, launching their career in 1974? A) Waterloo B) Arrival C) Take a Chance On Me D) Dancing Queen
4 What is the name of the strait that separates Nor-
way, Sweden, Denmark? A)Skagerakk B)Kattegat C)Dania Bay D)Skatnat Bay
5 If you fail to fool someone on April 1, where does a limerick allow you to try again on May 1? A ) Randers, Denmark B)Skåne, Sweden C) Turku, Finland D) Mariehamn, Åland
CULTURE
Namnsdagar
ognize having a strong diplomatic relationship together? A) 25 B) 118 C)200 D) 242
9 What is the highest mountain in Norway? A)Store Styggedalstinden B) Glittertind C)Galdhøpiggen D) Kebnekaise
10 What did the King’s childhood teacher Jenny Åk-
erström rename “grön tårta” (green cake) because his sisters loved it so much? A) Angel food cake B) Princess cake C) Blackbird pie D) Åkerström cake Answers: 1:C, 2:B, 3:A, 4:A, 5:B, 6:D, 7:D, 8:C, 9:C, 10:B
3 What song did ABBA win the Eurovision song a scene from sámi blood (2017). photo courtesy of toronto international film festival.
is the dizziness of freedom” A) Hein B) Hegel C) Kant D) Kierkegaard
April
April 6 Vilhelm/Wilhelm is a male name of German origin used in Sweden since the 1100s, though the English spellling William has become common in recent years. Swedish author Vilhelm Moberg is well known for his books The Emigrants, published in 1949 and made into a movie in 1971. In 2017, Vilhelm was no longer in the top 100 most popular names, though William was the number one name for boys. April 12 The female name Liv is a Nordic name that stems from the Icelandic word hlif, which means a defense or protection - and is the Swedish word for “life.” In Nordic mythology, Liv was one of only two who survived the great battle of Ragnarök. The name was very rare until 1990 and has since then climbed the ranks of popularity; by 2017 it was the 45th most popular name for girls in Sweden.
founded in new york city in september 1872 Nordstjernan (ISSN 1059-7670), founded in New York City in September 1872, is published by Swedish News, Inc., 570 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022 • Readers services and editorial submissions: P.O. Box 1710, New Canaan, CT 06840 Periodicals Postage paid at New York, NY, and additional mailing offices. www.nordstjernan.com, Nordstjernan is published semimonthly, except for the months of January, February, July when it is monthly and Augustwith no issue. POST MASTER: Please send address changes to Nordstjernan, P.O. Box 1710, New Canaan, CT 06840 Subscription rates: 1 yr. = $55, Two yr. = $99, outside US 1 yr. = $167.
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this week…
April TO DO 4.07 PLAY YOUR FAVORITE ABBA SONG: in celebration of ABBA’s April 7, 1974 Eurovision Song Contest win that jumpstarted their celebrity status 4.10 ACT ON YOUR PLANS FOR PEACE / Dag Hammarskjöld, the great Swedish diplomat, economist and author, was sworn in as the second secretary-general of the United Nations in 1953 4.12 EAT LICORICE* (WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT) “Lakritsdagen” / Licorice Day 4.15 START TO GATHER WOOD: You’ll need it for your Valborgmässoafton celebration on 4.30 4.20 DANCE & EAT PEPPERMINT CANDY: “Polkagrisdagen” AKA Amalia’s nameday / Amalia Eriksson started the now 160-year-old peppermint candy industry in Gränna, Sweden, probably naming the candy after a popular dance of the time, the polka.
4.30 ATTEND A BONFIRE “Valborgsmässafton” / Walpurgis Night: Bonfires are lit and everyone sings songs to mark the end of winter and the beginning of spring. *Licorice, especially salty black licorice, holds a very high place in Scandinavian society. The flavorful herb has been used in food and medicinal remedies for thousands of years and has been important to the candy loving Swedes since the 1930s. BonBon New York A[nother] Swedish Candy Co., one of a variety of stores in the U.S. from which you can order your salty licorice, opened on 130 Allen Street just in time for Lakritsdagen. And every (?!) Sunday personal (local) deliveries are made by Bobby Licorice! (Left) www.bonbonnyc.com Photo: IG bonbonnyc
Contrary to public opinion, many Vikings were as good natured as this reenactor. More Viking history (and maybe some chainmail) at the Sacramento Scandinavian Festival on April 21. /p8
Dashboard, p4-5
Scandinavian thrillers and ... a scarifying reissue / Fotografiska comes to NYC / Closing the gender gap / Swedish Prime Minister in Washington, DC / Artists wanted.
Events calendar, p6-9
What’s going on in Swedish America.
Inbox, p10
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Readers share their heritage stories, one from the other perspective (test your Swedish). Our Swedish Honorary Consuls, who are they really? We decided to find out. /p13
Swedish News, p27
Husqvarna bikes are back / Bringing local insight / Future city-based agriculture / Mini farm at home / Drones spot illegal fishing / Blockchain for digital assets / Swimming upstream / Built for start-up success. Page 12
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APRIL 01, 2018 3
dashboard | april 01, 2018
Scandinavian thrillers and ...
... a scarifying reissue
Dr. Jim Kaplan has been on tour with his lectures on Scandinavian crime thrillers, which have made quite a comeback around the world. The books are fun, an exciting introduction to literature and they offer a realistic look at the lives of Scandinavians today. This month in Vining, MN he will discuss thrillers written by Icelandic author Arnaldur Indridason, Norwegian Jo Nesbø, Swede Stieg Larsson and Dane Jussi Adler-Olsen. Though Vining, MN is a tiny hamlet, it has an active cultural life and is the site of a sculptor whose daughter is an astronaut; their name is Lindgren so they are probably Swedish. It is a beautiful spot by a lake, very typical of rural Minnesota - and Scandinavia. People come from miles around to attend the programs at Vining’s community center near Olson’s barn, and Dr. Kaplan’s lectures are always well attended. The program is free and open to the public, and they’re serving Swedish semlor on April 9, so try to make it to this one. If you miss it, check the calendar for his next lecture that might be in your area.
Husband and wife team Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril and Alexander Ahndoril, a.k.a. Lars Kepler, has been in the U.S. to promote the reissue of their Joona Linna crime series. Here shown with Kate Novak of Friends of House of Sweden at a recent reading at the Swedish center in the capital. Publisher Alfred A. Knopf decided to start with The Sandman, the fourth of a series that began with The Hypnotist. The Sandman offers “A Monster in the Mold of Hannibal Lecter” according to a quite favorable recent review in the New York Times: “With its tight, staccato chapters and cast of dangerous wraiths lurking everywhere, ‘The Sandman’ is a nonstop fright. It’s able to shift its focus frequently with no loss of tension.” If you’re a friend of recent years’ Scandinavian crime fiction, the Joona Linna series will work scarifyingly well, to borrow another term from the NYT review.
The stories, the traditions, the people behind the news. founded in new york city in september 1872 executive editor & publisher:
Ulf Barslund Mårtensson (editor@nordstjernan.com) editor:
Amanda Olson Robison (editor@nordstjernan.com) managing editor & production: Everett Martin graphic design: Nadia Wojcik (design@nordstjernan.com) contributors:
Chipp Reid - Lisa Mikulski - Ted Olsson - Leif Rosqvist Ulf Kirchdorfer - Valorie Arrowsmith - Olle Wijkström Bo Zaunders - Göran Rygert - James Kaplan - Gunilla Blixt publications director:
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nordstjernan p.o. box 1710 new canaan ct 06840 contact us at 1.800.827.9333 ext 10 for reader services, email: subs@nordstjernan.com; ext 12 for advertising, email: ads@nordstjernan.com www.nordstjernan.com Covering three worlds: Sweden, America and Swedish America. Order your own copy, $55.00 for a year (18 issues) Choose ‘subscribe’ at www.nordstjernan.com or call 1.800.827.9333, ext 10 4 NORDSTJERNAN
Fotografiska comes to NYC We toured the future home of Fotografiska in New York the other week, an event organized by SACC New York and led by Fotografiska’s CEO Jan Broman. The Fotografiska museum opened in Stockholm in 2010 in the Ferdinand Boberg-designed old royal customs house at Stadsgården, the quay along Söder’s north with a view over Strömmen to Gamla Stan and Skeppsholmen. The Fotografiska concept is an interesting combination of museum, destination and event space with a strong presence in the digital realm and an everchanging contemporary and exciting content. The Stockholm institution has in short order become a leading photography destination welcoming exhibits by some of the world’s most prominent photographers and around 500,000 visitors every year. The franchised New York branch in the Flatiron district of Manhattan will open at 281 Park Avenue South in February-March 2019. The 45,000-squarefoot building, formerly known as the Church Mission House, will include café, bar and restaurant
along with generous exhibition spaces. Careful renovations are Jan Broman with SACC New York President Anna Throneunder way in Holst. the unique sixstory building, leased by Fotografiska New York in its entirety, which offers an outstanding amount of interior spaces, with high ceilings and abundant natural light throughout. Fotografiska has been evaluating additional locations in Europe, the Americas and Asia for several years. Construction has commenced on a museum in the Whitechapel district of London and similar venues are in the planning stages for Lisbon and Shanghai in the not too distant future. The addition of future venues will likely enable the pooling of resources and collaboration over borders to keep the different museum locations virile. For more info, see www.fotografiska.com
dashboard | april 01, 2018
Artists wanted
Frozty Flower art suite by Natsuki and Shingo Saito Photo: Christian Strömqvist
Plans for a sustainable future
More than 80 years in, Lego continues to impress and keep things fresh. The world has come to expect this of Scandinavian design, and Lego is no exception. The Danish toy company is known for constantly releasing new products and growing its fanbase — of both children and adults. Now Lego is making good on its promise to make some of its pieces from sustainable, plant-based plastic. In 2015, the environmentally conscious company announced it was researching ways to produce the 60 billion oil-based plastic blocks they make each year from new sustainable materials, a goal for having a sustainable alternative within 15 years and zero waste in operations by 2030 The new material, sourced from sugarcane, is a flexible, soft and durable plastic called polyethylene. "Children and parents will not notice any difference in the quality or appearance of the new elements, because plant-based polyethylene has the same properties as conventional polyethylene," said Tim Brooks, Lego Group's vice president for environmental responsibility. Production has already started and the plantbased plastic Lego will be in new boxes of Lego before the end of 2018.
Facebook expands in Sweden Facebook’s real estate company Pinnacle Sweden AB has applied for building permission for a third server hall on Porsön, a few kilometers north of Luleå. The new server hall will be 1300 feet long and have a surface area of just over 330,000 square feet according to the newspaper NSD.
Timothy Lundgren/Sveriges ambassad USA
Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden is more than a cool (cold!) hotel, it is a life-sized interactive art exhibit. Every year, the entire the seasonal Icehotel is reborn by designers who use ice and snow as a canvas for their art, an original piece of art that melts and returns to Mother Nature in spring. New, creative, crazy or beautiful ideas are needed for next season. An artist doesn’t even have to have worked with ice and snow before, the only requirement is the designs must be original and include a bed. Want to apply? The submission deadline is May 6, 2018. To make your reservation or submit your idea, see www.icehotel.com INTERNATIONAL
Swedish Prime Minister in Washington, DC
Prime Minister Stefan Löfven met with President Trump and a number of top Swedish executives during a trip to Washington, DC in early March. It was the Löfven’ first official meeting with Trump, but the heads of state reiterated their nations’ mutual support and friendship, celebrating 200 years of diplomatic relations together. Growth, innovation, job creation and security were discussed in their meetings, the content of which was shared during the press conference that followed. They both indirectly mentioned a few differences, especially following President Trump’s announced of his intention to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum, but Löfven said, “... friends differ from time to time … still, we know that the relationship is so good.” Sweden and the U.S. are planning for shared cooperation in external relations, defense and security. Following the press conference, the Swedish Embassy in Washington hosted a reception to celebrate 200 years of diplomatic relations between Sweden and the United States. /p26
Closing the gender gap
While Sweden in general is working hard to narrow the gender gap, the foreign ministry has a new partnership with Wikimedia Sverige to increase gender equality on the internet. Together they’ve formed WikiGap, which specifically targets Wikipedia, Wikimedia’s user-generated online encyclopedia on which the vast majority of the content is created by men and about men. On International Women’s Day, Sweden hosted “WikiGap” edit-a-thons and seminars in 57 of its embassies around the world to encourage participants to write more entries about notable women. Certainly Wikipedia is but a small part of the web, but it’s a great starting point and underscores the hopes that more entities – in Sweden and around the globe – will be inspired to take gender inequality in online content more seriously. For more info or to get involved, see www. swemfa.se/wikigap
Women (and some men) joined forces with the Swedish Embassy in NY for one of 57 edit-a-thons around the world on March 8. Photo: SwedenUN
APRIL 01, 2018 5
local events
Local Events California
Sacramento 04.21, 10 AM - 4 PM 3 5 t h S a c ra m e n t o S c a n d i n a v i a n Festival Food and merchandise for sale, information about the Nordic countries, music, entertainment and door prizes, Scandinavian folk dancing and exhibits, a children’s area with arts and crafts, and a Viking camp with a ship. Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 916.501.9256, chuckj50@ surewest.net
Delaware
Wilmington 4.22, noon-4 PM SpringFest 2018 (AKA Festival at the Fort): Experience the rich historical heritage of the 7th Street Peninsula and the Colonialera cultures of the Lenni Lenape, Swedes, Finns, Dutch and English. An afternoon of fun and learning for the whole family. Old Swedes Foundation, 302.652.5629 / info@ oldswedes.org / www.oldswedes.org
Florida
Boca Raton 04.21, 6-8:30 PM Roberta Swedien - Swedish Rhapsody: Take an armchair journey into the heart of Sweden through a musical celebration of Sweden’s inspiring beauty and landscape
of the Swedish soul in words and music. Piano music is interspersed with narrations of the Swedish countryside, Viking poetry and reminiscences by the composers. It finishes with a medley called “The Swedish Flag.” Congregational Church on the Hill, 251 SW 4th Ave. www.robertaswedien.com Clearwater 04.06, 12-3 PM Suncoast Scandinavian Club: Learn more about our club and enjoy the April entertainment program, Baby Contest. RSVP to 732.546.7756, dinner is $17 at Banquet Masters. blekinge93usa@ gmail.com Daytona 05.06, 12:30-5:30 PM Swedish Hockey Camp with Swedish coaches. For age 8-13. Daytona Ice Arena, 352.409.8599 / soren224@hotmail.com
Illinois
Chicago 04.05, 6 PM Movie Night: Swedish movies have been prominent internationally since the early 1900s largely due to Greta Garbo. This month see Maria Wern – Dreams from Snow set on Gotland at Christmas. Sandwiches are available for purchase. Swedish American Museum, 773.728.8111 / www.swedishamericanmuseum.org 04.20, 11 AM Hejsan Story and Crafts: Come explore the
rich music culture of Sweden. All ages are welcome to attend with a caregiver for this free (with admission) program. Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration at Swedish American Museum, 773.728.8111 / www.swedishamericanmuseum.org Rock Island 4.12-04.14, 7-9 PM Scandinavian Film Fest: Augustana College presents its first Scandinavian Film Fest, free and open to the public. Films are in Swedish with English subtitles. April 12: Dead Snow, by Tommy Wirkola of Norway; April 13: We are the Best, the 2013 coming-of-age comedy is based on a graphic novel by Swedish author Coco Moodysson; April 14: The Square, Oscar nominated and winner of the 2017 Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, among many other awards, by Swedish director Ruben Östlund. Screenings take place in room 304, Hanson Hall, 309.794.7142 / www.augustana.edu/swenson
Louisiana
New Orleans Ongoing Why Is Everything A Rag: Stockholm-based artist Jockum Nordström exhibits in the U.S. for the first time. Children’s books, jazz and blues vinyl covers, collages, drawings, paintings and paper sculptures collected from the start of his career through today, figure in a practice animated by and built of a visual vernacular. Through June 17. Contemporary Arts Center, 504.528.3805 / www.cacno.org
Maryland
Greenbelt 04.21, 7-10 PM Scandia DC Saturday Dance: Review or learn popular Scandic dances, no partners necessary. This month’s live music features Lillhärdal (Polkettering, Hambo & Bakmes) and Paul Carlson and the Scandia DC Spelmannslag and some recorded music. Teaching 7-8 p.m., open dancing 8-10 p.m. $10. Greenbelt Community Center Dance Studio, 202.333.2826 / linda@ scandiadc.org / www.scandiadc.org.
Massachusetts
Newton 4.28, 1-2:30 PM Swedish folk meets American jazz: Swedish singer and accordionist Sunniva Brynnel performs Swedish folk songs in a jazz context with her trio of students from the New England Conservatory. Scandinavian Cultural Center, 617.795.1914 / kerry@ scandicenter.org / www.scandicenter.org
Minnesota
Minneapolis 04.07, 7 AM Svensk Frukost: Join the ASI Male Chorus for a selection of Swedish music and a full breakfast smörgåsbord. Funds from the breakfast support the Male Chorus and help preserve the Swedish choral tradition in the Midwest. Tickets $20/adults, $10/children also include a guided tour of ASI and its exhibitions. American Swedish Institute / www.asimn.org
Innovation 360 in Chicago
The one constant in today’s world? Change ... how do you avoid becoming one of the many red balls in the basket? By innovating and setting up your organization’s culture to innovate. Magnus Penkert’s (left) presentation is all “about you,” always uplifting and the analysis and report inspiring.
How do you prepare for an uncertain future? How do you adapt and change? How do you establish a culture of innovation in your organization or group? SACC Chicago and Innovation360 Group invites Chicago Area executives to attend a workshop focused on innovation with Magnus Penker, CEO. Following a presentation by Penker on innovation, attendees will participate in an interactive, facilitated workshop on how to succeed at innovation with global experts in the field as a benchmark. 6 NORDSTJERNAN
All participants will receive • An individual assessment of their personal innovation capabilities based on a survey they will complete in advance of the workshop. • A detailed, complementary innovation report with benchmarks, analysis and recommendations for your organization. Innovation 360 Group has a presence in 28 countries and, after a mere 12 months in the U.S. now works for the Pentagon and several A-list companies and universities. Penker, awarded “Most Innovative CEO Sweden 2016,” is an internationally renowned thought leader on innovation, digitalization and business transformation with several successful corporate launches in his background. For more info, see www.sacc-chicago. org or www.innovation360.com or call 312.257.3002
SAN FRANCISCO Söndag 8 april kl 11.00
GUDSTJÄNST
i Norska Sjömanskyrkan på Hyde St. Präst Louise Linder predikar och Therese Brewitz är organist. Kyrkkaffe och saft
Torsdag 12 april kl 19.00
STUDENT- OCH AU PAIR-MIDDAG i Norska Sjömanskyrkan på Hyde St. Hemlagad middag, quiz och gemenskap. Anmälan på Norska sjömanskyrkans fb-sida.
Torsdag 19 april kl 18.30 Meningen med livet. Mer info på webbsidan: www.svenskakyrkan.se/sanfrancisco
Lördag 21 april kl 15.00 (barnsamling kl 14.00)
FAMILJEGUDSTJÄNST
i Los Altos. Präst Louise Linder predikar. Kyrkkaffe och saft. Barn välkomna redan kl 14.00 för sång och pyssel.
Fredag 6, 13, 20, 27 april kl 10.30
BARNGRUPPEN
träffas på fredagar i Norska sjömanskyrkan för sång, lek och gemenskap. Smörgås, kaffe och saft serveras. Se Facebook för mer info!
SVENSKA KYRKAN SAN FRANCISCO Norska Sjömanskyrkan, 2454 Hyde Street, San Francisco Tel: 415-632-8504 Epost: sanfrancisco@svenskakyrkan.se Hemsida: www.svenskakyrkan.se/sanfrancisco
local events Through 04.08 Mobile Sauna: Relax in a mobile sauna that’s parked in the American Swedish Institute courtyard. Come hydrated and enjoy the full benefits of a round of 10-20 minutes in the hot room, followed by a cool-down period outside. A typical sauna session consists of 3-4 rounds, sign up for a spot in the sauna at www.612saunasociety. com / American Swedish Institute / info@ asimn.org /www.asimn.org 04.20, 12 PM First Look Art Opening: Sculptor Kim Simonsson of Finland crafts life-sized figures of child and animals in “mosscovered” ceramics, often found in natural settings that lead the viewer into an imaginative, fairytale-like world inspired by the forests of Finland. On exhibit through July 15 at American Swedish Institute / info@asimn.org /www.asimn.org 04.25, 6:30-8:30 PM Nordic Table: Swedish Kroppkakor (potato dumplings) are common across many cultures, but few are as imposing as the Swedish versions. Make them with instructor Patrice Johnson then enjoy eating them; menu to include modern Swedish potato dumplings with lingonberries, sauce and salad. $45/ members , $55/non-members. American Swedish Institute / info@asimn.org / www.asimn.org Ongoing Ulla the Baker: Anders Suneson’s cheerful, illustrated children’s books come to life and families are transported to winter in Östersund, Sweden, with Ulla, who has her own bakery. Step into Ulla’s world through wooden sculptures that Suneson carved onsite, see Ulla and her cinnamon buns, meet the dog, see the chicken and climb onboard a snowmobile by Suneson - all in ASI’s Family Gallery’s intergenerational, imaginative play environment. American Swedish Institute / info@asimn.org / www.asimn.org Vining 04.09, 6 PM Scandinavian Crime Thrillers Today: Dr. Jim Kaplan discusses Scandinavian crime novels featuring “The Draining Lake” by Icelandic author Arnaldur Indridason, “The Snowman” by Norwegian author Jo Nesbø, “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” by Swedish author Stieg Larsson, as well as “The Department Q Trilogy” by Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen. Free, Swedish semlor will be served. Community Center, 218.282.0332 / kaplan@mnstate.edu Scandia 05.27, 1-4 PM Immigrant for a Day: Experience a free day as an immigrant making a new life on a small farm in the late 1800s. As part of annual Minnesota Museums Month, visit each of the five historic and fully furnished buildings to participate
Do you know about an upcoming event in Swedish America? Submit it any time to our online calendar at www.nordstjernan.com/ calendar
New Tide Orquesta on tour in the U.S. New Tide Orquesta brings a new energy to chamber music through their mix of Baroque, jazz, folk and still (a hint of new tango, with an intense dynamic). Formerly known as New Tango Orquestra, their unique sound and style was formed in the late 1990s in Gothenburg, Sweden when some friends of Per Störby Jutbring gathered to try out his new work. The five musicians of NTO all have established solo careers as well; they are Livet Nord – violin, Josef Kallerdahl – double bass, Johanna Dahl – cello, Thomas Gustavsson – piano, and Per Störby – bandoneon. NTO released their debut album in 1998 and have since then toured all over the world and released eight albums, which have won them numerous awards. Their music has been used in several movies and theatrical productions, dance performances and art installations. in the work and play of residents of this small farm - hauling water, packing your trunk for America, making butter, doing laundry and playing games at recess in the new school yard. Dress in period costume to add to your experience. Gammelgården Museum, 651.433.5053 / www.gammelgardenmuseum.org New York New York 04.04, 6-9 PM New Nordic Cinema: See Johannes Nyholm’s film, The Giant (Jätten), in Swedish with English subtitles, 90 min. Rickard is a 30-year-old man with autism and a physical disability. It is difficult to communicate with others, but he finds comfort by retreating into a rich fantasy world and by competing as his care facility’s star player in petanque, a French bowling game. When he’s compelled to form his own new team to compete in the Nordic
In 2016 they released two albums which were celebrated with some high profile concerts in Sweden and a collaboration with the Brooklyn, NY-based company Sidra Bell Dance. Together with Sidra Bell, New Tide Orquesta performed their world premier of Mönster Outside in New Orleans in November 2017 and are now touring in the U.S., Canada and Sweden during 2018. www.newtideorquesta.com See them on the Atlantic coast in early April: April 5: Wilson Center, Wilmington, NC - 7:30 p.m. www.cfcc.edu/capefearstage/sidra-bell April 6: House of Sweden, Washington DC - 7 p.m. www.newtideorquesta.com April 7: Scandinavia House, New York, NY - 7 p.m., $15. www.scandinaviahouse.org
Championship, his fantasies and real-life dreams must find balance. Scandinavia House, 212.779.3587 / jennifer@amscan. org / www.scandinaviahouse.org 04.06-08 Nordic Stage: Scandinavian American Theater Company (SATC) & The Bergman Studio/The Royal Dramatic Theatre of Sweden present a Festival of New Scandinavian Theater with works from seven Scandinavian playwrights. The plays are presented in English and are free to the public. Nordic Stage’s goal is to highlight the diversity of work being produced in Scandinavia today, featuring plays with a variety of genres, styles and subject matter. The Studio Theatre, Theatre Row, New York, www.satcnyc.org 04.07, 6-9 PM New Tide Orquestra: Fronted by composer Per Störby Jutbring, NTO brings their
genre-surpassing sound and style to NYC with a mix of modern chamber music, minimalism, improvisation, and hints of new tango. Scandinavia House, 212.779.3587 / www.scandinaviahouse.org 04.11, 6-9 PM New Nordic Cinema: View Sara Johnsen‘s film Framing Mom (“Rosemari”). 95 min. in Norwegian and Danish with English subtitles. During her wedding reception, young bride Unn Tov finds a newborn girl abandoned in a hotel restroom, and turns her over to social services. Sixteen years later that girl turns up at her doorstep, looking for answers. Scandinavia House, 212.779.3587 / www.scandinaviahouse.org 04.17, 6:30 -9 PM Grieg quartets with Quartetto Testosterone: Norwegian string quartet Quartetto Testosterone presents both Edvard Grieg’s quartets in an entirely Scandinavian APRIL 01, 2018 7
local events program. Written at two very different stages of his life, Grieg’s string quartets offer a clear contrast to one another, yet share folkloric elements common in Norwegian music of the national romantic era. Scandinavia House, 212.779.3587 / www.scandinaviahouse.org
Through
NORDSTJERNAN 1.800.827.9333 Ext 10
04.19, 6-9 PM Per Tengstrand & Opus 21: Mozart and Brahms. Swedish pianist Per Tengstrand is joined by a string quartet from Opus Twentyone, a group of talented musicians from Princeton University. Scandinavia House, 212.779.3587 / www. scandinaviahouse.org 04.25, 6-9 PM New Nordic Cinema: View Going West/ Rett vest, a warm and comic road-trip film from Henrik Martin Dahlsbakken
(Norway, 2017), 79 min. in Norwegian with English subtitles. Kaspar’s mother, an expert quilter who has been scheduled to compete on the island of Ona, has died. To honor her legacy, he travels alongside his estranged transgender father to bring her final masterpiece to the competition. Scandinavia House, 212.779.3587 / www. scandinaviahouse.org 05.12, 11 AM – 12 PM Nordic Storytelling: This popular ongoing children’s series with some of New York’s most famous storytellers from the Hans Christian Andersen Storytelling Center, present exciting fairy and folk tales and fantastic adventures from Scandinavia and the far north. Ages 5+. Scandinavia House, , 212.779.3587 / www.scandinaviahouse.org
Oregon
Portland 04.04,6:30-8:30 PM The Complete Songs of Edvard Grieg: Soprano Laura Loge in concert. Northwest Edvard Grieg Society at Nordic Northwest, 503.977.0275 / laila@scanheritage.org / www.scanheritage.org 4.30, 6-8:30 PM Walpurgis Night Bonfire: Come join the Vappu/Valborgsmässoafton fun with beverages, varmkorv (hot dogs), sweets, songs sung in Swedish, plus a beautiful bonfire. Free! Portland Scandinavian Chorus / www.portlandscandinavianchorus.com
Pennsylvania Philadelphia 04.14, 10 AM
Sacramento Scandinavian Festival
Augusta’s Daughter Ever wonder what made so many emigrate from Sweden in the nineteenth century? Judit Martin’s novel, “Augusta’s Daughter,” about 19th century Swedish peasant life made such an impression on us, we decided to offer it to the Nordstjernan readership. call 1.800.827.9333 for your own copy ($24.90 incl. S&H to continental U.S.).
Scandinavian Park, Inc. NFP 2018 Events Celebrating 65 Years in 2018 Saturday, March 24, 2018 Dinner Dance at Avalon Banquets Elk Grove Village, IL Saturday, April 28, 2018 Valborg Day (Spring Clean-Up) Vasa Park, Rt. 31, South Elgin, IL Saturday, May 12, 2018 Paint/Rake/Dig Day at Vasa Park (Sat. May 19, 2018: Follow-up Day) Saturday, June 23, 2018 Scandinavian Park represented at Geneva Swedish Days Sunday, July 22, 2018 65th Anniversary Event at Vasa Park AM: Herring Breakfast PM: Bring Your Own Picnic Sunday, September 9, 2018 Scandinavian Day Festival From 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
National archives and library for Swedish-American historical research Publishers of Swedish American Genealogist 639 38th Street Rock Island, IL | 61201-2296 309-794-7204
www.augustana.edu/ swenson 8 NORDSTJERNAN
Saturday, October 6, 2018 Scandinavian Fish Boil Delicious Lunch at Vasa Park Saturday, October 27, 2018 Annual Membership Meeting Vasa Park, Rt. 31, South Elgin, IL Saturday, November 10, 2018 Fall Clean-Up Day at Vasa Park
Vasa Park
35W217 Route 31 South Elgin, IL 60177 847-695-6720 www.vasaparkil.com www.scandinaviandayil.com
The 35th Annual Sacramento Scandinavian Festival on April 21 takes place at at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center at 6151 H St., Sacramento. The festival features Scandinavian food, baked goods and merchandise for sale. There will be Viking reenactors and interactive activities for the whole family. You can gather information about the Nordic countries and enjoy music, entertainment and door prizes! It’s all happening from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more info, see www.facebook.com/events/152456005372275
Svensk Frukost in Minneapolis
Join the ASI Male Chorus for Swedish music and a full breakfast smörgåsbord on April 7, 2018. Starting at 7 a.m., you can enjoy Swedish pancakes with lingonberries, Swedish sausage, scrambled eggs, smorgåsar (sliced meats, cheese, pickled herring, vegetables on rye bread), kringle, coffee and juice. Funds from the breakfast support the Male Chorus and help preserve the Swedish choral tradition in the Midwest. Tickets $20/adults, $10/children also include a guided tour of ASI and its exhibitions. www.asimn.org
local events Walking with Reindeer: Erika Larsen introduces us to the day-to-day lives of modern Sami families through her acclaimed photography exhibition: Sami Walking with Reindeer. American Swedish Historical Museum, 215.389.1776 / www. americanswedish.org 05.15, 10:30am-11:30am Toddler Time: In conjunction with the Sami exhibit, toddlers learn about this special culture. ASHM will introduce the important role reindeer play in the lives of the Sami people in Scandinavia. Join us while we read Inger’s Promise by Jamie Parkison, play reindeer games, create a reindeer craft to take home, and enjoy a snack.American Swedish Historical Museum, 215.389.1776 / www.americanswedish.org
Texas
Houston 04.26, 5-8 PM Traditional Swedish Thursday : Join us and friends from other Nordic and European Chambers of Commerce in Houston for a night of networking and traditional Swedish meal of pea soup, pancakes, punch, beer, wine and champagne. At Chef Søren’s Kitchen / www.sacctx.com
Washington
Seattle 04.05, 10:30 AM Nordic storytelling: in our 11th year of Nordic stories geared toward preschoolers and their grown-ups, The Three Billy Goats Fluff by Rachel Mortimer is shared along with a fun craft project. This month (through May) storytelling takes place at Secret Garden Books in downtown Ballard, 2214 NW Market St. 206.789.5707 / www. nordicmuseum.org
APRIL 22, 2018 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Old Swedes Historical Site, Fort Christina National Park, Copeland Maritime Center and Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard
Celebrating Colonial and Native life in the Delaware Valley with Food, Games, Music and More!
FREE ADMISSION Wilmington, DE www.oldSwedes.org 302.652.5629
“Among Buocot,” 2009 by Erika Larsen / The People That Walk With Reindeer
Walking with reindeer
Erika Larsen introduces the day-to-day lives of modern Sami families through her acclaimed photography exhibition: Sami - Walking with Reindeer. As part of a four-year project with National Geographic, Erika worked as a beaga (housekeeper) among a northern Sami reindeer-herding family. While living and working with them, Erika photographed reindeer and reindeer herders in both Norway and Sweden. From her intimate vantage point, Erika immersed herself in the culture, language, and land of the northern Sami. Her work gives an intimate peek into the beautiful and bloody realities of reindeer herding but also illuminates Sami connections with their past, their environment and each other. These tender images show quieter moments of life in the far north: a child with his dog, a Sami tent (laavu) alone before the Northern Lights, and a baby nestled in a wooden cradle. 04.08, 8 AM-1 PM Pancake Breakfast: Authentic Swedish pancakes, music and folk dancing, good friends, and real Swedish coffee. Everyone is welcome! Breakfast includes pancakes with lingonberries or strawberries, ham, milk, coffee, orange juice and seconds. $9/members, $11/non-members, free-$5/children. Swedish Club, 1920 Dexter Ave., 206.283.1090 / www. swedishclubnw.org Ballard 05.05, 3 PM Nordic Miniatures: Now and Then. Roberta Swedien is at the Grand Opening of the new Nordic Heritage Museum with her musical celebration of Sweden. Nordic Heritage Museum, 206.789.5707
We briefly caught up with Erika having just returned from Peru and wanted to hear more about this originally personal project she chose to do between 2007 and 2011: “I hope that my pictures create a space of contemplation and silence so the viewers can learn and feel something about the Sami herders, their connection to the Arctic landscape and their way of life.” Erika sees her Sami family as teachers, and hopes her photos show a better understanding of our role as stewards of the earth. “It is inevitable when spending time in a more nature-based culture that one must recognize the cycles of life and death and therefore begin to evaluate man's role within this circle." The exhibit opens April 14 and continues though August 26 at the American Swedish Historical Museum in Philadelphia, 215.389.1776 / www.americanswedish.org
/ robertaswedien@gmail.com / www. nordicmuseum.org
Wisconsin
Madison April 12–14 Nordic World Records Symposium: Musicians, folklorists, historians and the community enjoy roundtable discussions, two nights of concerts with musicians from Scandinavia and Scandinavian America, dancing, a showcase of Scandinavian-related archival collections and a keynote speaker on the subject of the documentation and revitalization efforts of Scandinavian musical traditions on both sides of the Atlantic. The University Club, 432 E. Campus Mall, 608.262.8180 / folklife@letsci.wisc.edu / http://folklife.
wisc.edu/WorldRecords Milwaukee 04.14, 1-3 PM Pea soup potluck lunch: The program: Who is your favorite Swede? Christ the Victor, New Berlin, 262.366.9152 / lekstrand@wi.rr.com
For more local events in Swedish America see our online calendar at www. nordstjernan.com/calendar or download the free app Nordic in America-Events from App Store or Google Play www.nordicinamerica.com APRIL 01, 2018 9
readers forum
InBox Dear Editor, I thought you might enjoy seeing this story from the blog of Reino Rhodin, a resident of Strömsund, Sweden (north of Östersund). He is a cousin of my husband. When we researched our Swedish family connections, Reino was one of the cousins we found. As the article explains, we visited him in 2010 and 2016. Most of the stories about Americans finding their Swedish cousins seem to come from the American viewpoint. This is the story of a Swedish man and his relationship with his newfound cousin. Bonnie Nelson Johnson, NC Mars 04, 2018 Jag har en stor släkt, eftersom min pappa hade 9 syskon och min mamma 8 syskon. Därför har jag många kusiner utspridda över Sverige och världen. För ganska många år sen, tror att det var 20032004, så började jag med lite släktforskning på amatörnivå. De personer jag lagt in där är sådana jag själv känner till. Nu finns det en begränsning i hur många personer man kan lägga in på gratis-nivån, som jag började med. Om man vill kunna lägga in fler personer och kunna söka via digitaliserade kyrkböcker så får man betala en liten summa varje år. Jag har inte kommit dit än, men så småningom kanske. I alla fall så la jag upp släktsidan på nätet, och hösten 2009 fick jag ett brev från USA, närmare bestämt Albuquerque, New Mexico. Innan jag öppnade så tänkte jag att det var nån sorts kedjebrev. Men när jag öppnade och började läsa så insåg jag att det var en avlägsen släkting till mig, där hans förfäder hade utvandrat till USA och bosatt sig i bland annat Minnesota, som ju är en stor svenskbygd. Han hade kommit i kontakt med min släktsida och såg där att vi hade gemensamma släktingar, och på det viset fick vi kontakt. Vi mailade och skrev många brev till varandra, och han och hans fru hade planer på att komma till Sverige i juni året därpå, 2010. Det skulle bli spännande och jag såg fram emot mötet. De kom till min hemby och vi gick runt lite där och jag visade var han härstammade ifrån, och sen åkte vi hem till Strömsund för middag och lite samtal innan vi gick i säng rätt så sent. De hade ett tajt schema och skulle vidare redan nästa dag, dels till Trondheim och Kragerö, och sen vidare tillbaks till södra Sverige igen, eftersom frun Bonnie också har svenska rötter. Adolph, som kallas för JR, startade en sluten släktsida på Facebook i samma veva som de började planera sin första resa till sina anförvanters land. Som nybliven pensionär hade han gott om tid till släktforskning, Med tanke på att han delvis forskar på ett främmande språk, så har han gjort ett fantastiskt jobb. Det är verkligen intressant att läsa. Jag har fått mer information om min släkt tack vare hans jobb. Vi håller kontakt, ibland sporadiskt, och ibland mera frekvent. 10 NORDSTJERNAN
Bonnie, JR (Adolph) and I in Flykälen, Krokom 2010.
2016 skulle deras andra resa till Sverige och Norge bli av och även denna gång skulle vi träffas i mina hemtrakter. De kom till Sverige i maj 2016, hämtade ut sin nya bil hos Volvo i Göteborg, och körde upp till Jämtland. Jag var alltså den första utomstående som åkte i deras nya bil. De hade också gjort en ny Facebooksida, just för denna resa och även den bara för vår släkt. Vi träffades i Laxsjö, och åkte sen upp mot Tuvattnet, där vi också har vår släkt ifrån. Vidare upp till dammen vid Foskvattnet, där vi gick en liten tur, trots det mindre smickrande vädret. Jag berättade att jag var en av de som var med och avverkade skogen där inför dammbygget, när jag var i dryga 20-årsåldern. På vägen hem såg vi ganska mycket älg, och en av dem lyckades vi få på bild även om det var lite långt avstånd. Bonnie och JR tyckte det var väldigt roligt att få se älg på så pass nära håll. När vi kom tillbaks till Laxsjö så gick vi upp till den gamla skolan, som varit både barnhem för samebarn och Missionskyrka. I den “kyrkan” gifte sig JR:s förfäder på 1800-talet. Sen åkte vi hem till mig där jag bjöd på middag, och sen skulle de vidare igen. Lika tajt schema denna gång. Men det som är fantastiskt i det här, är att jag känner släktskapet så skarpt med JR, att det känns
English summary:
Proud new Volvo owner; JR picks up his new car.
som om vi träffas regelbundet, och inte vart 6:e år. Jag har verkligen fått fina vänner “Over there” i JR och hans Bonnie. En annan sak som är lite kul är att när jag pratar med JR och hans fru så sker det ju på engelska. Jag som inte hade pratat engelska sen skolåldern. Men tydligen så sitter det där än, det är väl som att lära sig cykla antar jag. Jag är ingen expert på språket men jag pratar nästan obehindrat med dem i alla fall. De har inga problem med att förstå mig. Säger de i alla fall. Reino Rhodin, Strömsund
I have a big family with many cousins spread across Sweden and the world. Quite a few years ago I started some genealogy research and in the fall of 2009 I received a letter from an American relative in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We emailed and wrote many letters to each other, and he and his wife planned a trip to Sweden in June of 2010. They came to my hometown and I showed him where he was from, enjoyed dinner and conversation during the brief visit. Adolph, who’s called JR, and his wife Bonnie had more places to visit since she also has Swedish roots. We stayed in touch, and in 2016 JR and Bonnie came to Sweden a second time. They arrived in May, picked up their new car at Volvo in Gothenburg, and drove up to Jämtland - I was the first person to travel in their new car. We headed to Tuvattnet Lake, where we also have relatives. We went for a short hike at the Foskvattnet dam, and on our way back saw quite a few moose. JR and Bonnie thought it was great fun to see moose in close proximity and managed to get a photo. Back in Laxsjö we went to the old school which had been the Mission Covenant church where JR’s ancestors were married in the 19th century. It’s amazing that I feel so close to JR, we seem we meet a lot more often than every six years. It’s so nice to have JR and Bonnie “over there” and speak English with them - I had not spoken English since I was in school, but apparently it’s just like riding a bike.
readers forum Issue 02, February Love the magazine and hate to see silly mistakes. The ferry on the cover of your February issue may bear the name “Djurgården 4,” but it does not run to Djurgården. Instead, it traverses Riddarfjärden. (Jag har en bostad på Kungsholmen — mitt hus vid Norr Mälarstrand syns nästan på bilden — så jag är säker på att det är färjan tvärs över Riddarfjärden. All the best, Steve Trygg, FL Thanks Steve, you’re absolutely right, we were incorrectly going with the photograph’s caption. The image does show Riddarfjärden with Norr Mälarstrand and Stockholm City Hall and the origin is more likely Söder Mälarstrand and the destination either Kungsholmstorg or Klara Mälarstrand. /Ed.
Family reunion in Sweden Eighteen cousins who are related by blood or marriage to Greta and Victor Johanson (Vasa Order of America Lodge Skansen NJ members) traveled to the west coast of Sweden for a family reunion with a larger part of Greta’s family, our cousins who were born in Sweden. The extended Swedish branch numbers at least 70 people or more when all heads are counted. We stayed in a very large house near the beaches at Ugglarp on the Kattegatt. The U.S. branch included five of Greta and Vic’s grandchildren. Sandra and Jill are children of L-R: Dori Fenske, Greta Johanson, Elsie Risedorf Dorothy and the late Roy Fenske, who were longtime members of Lodge Skansen. Sue, Ken and Holly are the children of Elsie and the late Ken Risdorf, also long-time members of Skansen. Elsie and Dot are 70-year members or more. Also attending were several great-grandchildren. Our visit included a welcome dinner at the home of our cousin Birgitta Lagerqvist in Partille, a wonderful midsommar celebration at the home of our cousin Gunvor Lundgren and her family in Hovås, a huge run-on at the Falkenberg Boat Club hosted by cousin Stig Olausson and his family and trips to Gothenburg, Falkenberg, Varberg, Halmstad, Copenhagen and Legoland in Billund, Denmark. Halland is a great place to visit, and the two weeks flew by! We came together from Texas, New York, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Maryland, Israel and ended up in a perfect setting on the west coast of Sweden, near our many cousins … we may not all be Vasa members any more, but we remember our Vasa roots and honor our heritage. Susan Harris, NY Many thanks for sharing Sue. It’s always a delight to hear more about our readers’ connections in and with Sweden. /Ed.
Congrats to Australia — banning all guns The continent of Australia has banned and confiscated all machine guns and pistols by a national, apparently binding referendum. Every year about 15,000 people are shot and killed in America and thousands maimed for life! People with feelings for a peaceful society here are fed up and want a national referendum to ban all guns, vote on the death penalty, women’s right to abortion, stop bombings of foreign nations, a choice vote on nationwide health insurance — including free health care — not only as now for the 249-plus millionaires in Congress but for all of our citizens. It can all be paid for by raising taxes on for instance alcoholic beverages. At present a gallon of beer has only a 25¢ tax. Don’t forget the No. 1 obligation as citizens: to abolish the Second Amendment, which is outdated since the 1776 war. Guns in 200 schools have killed so many. Don’t arm teachers — some of them may not be able to handle triggers and who would like to depend on armed guards at schools? Less guns - less killings! President Trump said “power to the people” so, let us have referendums! Per-Hugo Kristensson, alarmed reader, IL Dear Per-Hugo, Similar to Sweden, every person in the possession of a gun in Australia must have a license and a genuine reason for holding a firearm license. And while it wasn’t a referendum—it never came to that—all semi-automatic and other military style weapons were indeed banned in Australia already in 1996. The sweeping gun reforms followed after the Port Arthur Massacre, which cost 35 lives by the hand of an estranged loner with a military style weapon. People were simply fed up with the growing violence. Within days of that tragedy, elected officials, pressed forward by police chiefs across the country, made the decision to ban weapons; the federal government prohibited the import and lawmakers initiated a gun buyback program to encourage Australians to freely give up their assault weapons. And many in the roughneck pioneer country did. Since then, there has not been one incident of mass killings, gun violence is down and the Australian murder rate has fallen to less than one-fifth of the U.S. number—one homicide per 100,000 people and only 32 of these—in a nation of 24 million—were committed with guns. Chicago alone (a city of 2.7 million residents) had 762 homicides in 2017, of which 500 were gun related. /Ed. APRIL 01, 2018 11
art and culture
Dillkött, a classic Swedish dish If you have a Swedish background you’re likely used to dill. In Sweden potatoes are often boiled with dill, but here’s a dill-spiced Swedish classic dish like few others: dillkött, sweet and sour beef stew with dill. How long dillkött has been part of the Swedish cuisine is unclear but its first mention was in the cookbook by Cajsa Varg in 1755. The origins of dill can be traced back thousands of years and its origin is likely Egypt, possibly Greece in the Near East. Apart from giving a strong, tangy, appetizing flavor and taste, it has many medicinal properties, which mainly come from its vitamins and minerals. The curing effects of dill are often mentioned in Nordic medicinal books from the Middle Ages—a Dr. Harpetstraeng wrote about the positive effect from dill on nursing mothers already in the 13th century. In Sweden the medicinal aspect became less important in the 17th century when dill became the main ingredient for pickling and its overall flavor popular. In 1639 it’s mentioned as the most important spice in the Swedish household, and the hymn writer, later Archbishop Håkan Spegel, included the following rhyme in one of his works: Kyndel och dill, lavendel of persilja är bättre i ett kök än tulpan och lilja. (Savory and dill, lavender and parsley are better for the kitchen than tulips and lillies) Back to dillkött, not the most common dish in Swedish households anymore but a classic well worth trying. Ingredients: 3-1/2 pounds (1-1/2 kg) boneless veal or lamb 1/2 gallon (1-4/5 L) water 1/2 tsp salt 10 white pepper corns 1 small leek 1 carrot 3 dill stems Sauce 1 tbsp butter
In Sweden, everything pickled comes with dill, from herring to cucumbers and a majority of gravlax recipes include the spice as well.
2 tbsp flour 1/3 cup (1 dl) heavy cream 2-1/2 tbsp (recipe below) 1/2 dl finely chopped dill
into pieces) and dill stems. Boil on low heat under the lid until the meat is tender, about 1-1/2 hours. 4. Place the meat without leek, carrot and dill stalks, in a serving pot and keep warm. Save the broth.
Pickling mix (Identical to inläggningslag) 1/3 cup (1 dl) sugar 3/4 cup (2 dl) vinegar essence (12% ättiksprit) 3/4 cup (2 dl) of water
Pickling mix: Cook sugar, vinegar essence (a.k.a. acetic acid, 12% in Sweden) and water. Let cool.
Instruction: 1. Cut the meat into 1” to 1-1/2” cubes. Put in a saucepan with mildly salted water. Cook briefly. 2. Empty saucepan and rinse the meat under cold running water. Put the meat back in the pan and pour on water just enough to cover. Let boil. Scoop off foam. 3. Add salt, white pepper corns, leek, carrot (cut
Dill (Anethum graveolens)
We’re used to seeing dill leaves but the herb’s seeds and leaves can both be used for medicinal purposes. Dill helps digestion, and has been said to provide relief from insomnia, hiccups, diarrhea, dysentery, menstrual disorders, respiratory disorders and various types of cancers. It is also good for oral care and can be a powerful boost for your immune system. It can protect you from bone degradation and is also an anti-inflammatory substance, which means that it can protect you against arthritis. Furthermore, it can reduce excess 12 NORDSTJERNAN
Sauce: Melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir down the flour. Dilute while stirring with 1-1/2 to 2 cups (4-5 dl) of the broth. Boil for a few minutes. Add the cream and let simmer. Season the sauce with the pickle mix so that it has a really good sweet and sour taste. 5. Add the dill and pour the sauce over the meat. Serve with a variety of root vegetables, or a tomato and bean salad and boiled or pressed potatoes.
gas, and is considered a carminative. Vitamins and minerals in dill include powerful monoterpenes like limonene, carvone and anethofuran, as well as flavonoids like vicenin and kaempferol. It has a significant amount of vitamin A and C, as well as trace amounts of folate, iron and manganese.
Sweden’s Honorary Consuls in the U.S. Who are they? In an effort to find out more about the Swedish consuls in America, the work they do and the people they represent, contributor Helen Teike interviewed each of them, published here throughout the year.
North Carolina
Honorary Consul: Magnus Natt och Dag, Raleigh How long have you been the Swedish consul? Ambassador Gunnar Lund installed me in April 2006. What is your full-time occupation? I am the VP CFO and Treasurer at Saab Barracuda USA. We belong to the Swedish Aerospace and Defense Organization Saab AB, which engages in the design, testing and manufacture of signature management and camouflage products for the U.S. armed forces and government agencies.
About Swedish food: I studied in Umeå so I am familiar with the surströmming tradition; it is not one I want to continue. However, I definitely enjoy sill och nubbe. Explaining Sweden to others: I can’t recall when someone was not familiar with Sweden. But I probably start geographically: It’s not Switzerland and it is in northern Europe, roughly the same size and population as NC. Sweden’s biggest achievement in history: Sweden and human rights have a long history. In 1766, Sweden became the first country to introduce freedom of the press. Today, human rights are central to Swedish foreign policy. Most admired Swede: Raoul Wallenberg, architect, businessman, diplomat and humanitarian. He is widely celebrated for saving tens of thousands of Jews in Nazi-occupied Hungary during the Holocaust. What Sweden could teach America: Free healthcare and free university. It should be everyone’s right to be healthy and get help if needed. In addition, education must be high on the agenda. Children are our future.
How much time do you spend on consular matters? It differs from year to year. Some years are full of activities, maybe even a visit from the Swedish Ambassador. In 2016, as an example, we were honored with a visit from the Swedish Constitutional Committee who wanted to observe the South Carolina Primary Election. I am lucky to have a fantastic Honorary Vice Consul, Ylva Westin. Without her I would not be able to handle this mission. How many Swedish citizens are in your area? An exact number is impossible to give. We estimate we have about 2,500 Swedes in the Carolinas. We used to have Sony Ericsson here in the Triangle and they had employees on contracts from 3 months to 3 years. How many Swedes visit the consulate? It differs a lot. We used to be able to accept passport applications at the consulate. At that time we had quite a high frequency of visitors. Now it’s mostly consular duties like picking up passports or driver’s licenses, or it could be interviews for Swedes moving back to Sweden with an American significant other. Of course once in a while we have Swedes who have gotten in trouble; if any Swede is sentenced to prison, we visit them and look out for their well-being. What local Swedish organizations do you cooperate with? Swedish American Chamber of Com-
merce of the Carolinas (SACC Carolinas), Swedish Women’s Educational Association (SWEA), the Swedish American organization Vasa and SAGA of the Carolinas. What is the Swedish Consulate’s most important job for the Swedes and Americans in your area? For the Swedes it is the consular duties we provide. For the community as a whole, it is the promotion of Sweden in all areas we can think of: business development, human rights, social welfare, higher education, gender equality and the arts. We also do a lot of networking events and have some speaking engagements. Recently I was invited to UNC’s Center for European Studies to talk about Sweden and our function as a consulate here in the Carolinas. What is your most important task? I think the most important task is to support the Swedes in the community. Our Swedish Honorary Vice Consul Ylva Westin takes on this most important task of supporting the Swedish community while I can focus on the promotion of Sweden. If we had more funds, I would hire an intern to focus on promotion. As I see it there are a lot of additional business opportunities between Sweden and the Carolinas. I would also like to work more with cultural exchanges between Sweden and the Carolinas. What is your personal connection with Sweden? I am a dual citizen but Swedish born and bred - in Helsingborg (Sundets Pärla). My fondest memory of Sweden was the renewal of my wedding vows with my wife Kristina in the summer of 2009. We got married in the U.S. but had the big party in Sweden. Swedish Honorary Consulate in Raleigh 940 NW Cary Parkway, Suite 102 A Cary, NC 27513 919.531.0062 raleigh@consulateofsweden.org APRIL 01, 2018 13
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by Rebecca Weiss
Little is known about Swedish immigration to Florida in the 1800s, but quite a few took the leap to a different climate in their new country.
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y m o t h e r ’s m a i d e n n a m e w a s Henschen, and we belong to the Swedish part of the family. I was born and raised in Stockholm but moved to America in the 1990s. Through some twist of fate, I ended up in Florida, not far from where Josef Henschen lived most of his life. In early 2005, I came across a large number of letters written by my great-grandfather’s brother, Josef Henschen. He emigrated from Uppsala, Sweden, to the Sanford area in Florida, in 1871. The letters were addressed to his dear friend
Knut Ångström in Sweden, and spanned several decades. Knut was a well known scientist, son of the famous physicist Anders Jonas Ångström, after whom the unit “angstrom” is named. About 100 years after the letters were written, Knut’s grandson found them in his father’s attic. Josef’s letters were personal and intimate, but also contained practical, financial and political information that you don’t find in the usual Florida history books. They moved me deeply and I started to do some research about him. In the archives at Uppsala University I found more
Henschen, professor of medicine at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, and a member of the Nobel Committee of Medicine. His three brothers, Wilhelm, Josef and Esaias, all moved to the United States. Only Salomon remained in Sweden. Wilhelm (William) Henschen was the first to leave, in 1870. He freelanced as an agent for Anchor Lines, a shipping company whose transatlantic steamships brought large amounts of Swedish immigrants to America. Wilhelm lived mostly in New York but spent time in Florida and bought some land by Lake Jessup. In 1874 he wrote an instruction book for prospective Swedish immigrants. Chris Best happened to locate the only existing copy of this book at the Augustana College, and got photo copies of all its pages. It was in Swedish of course. I translated it to English, and it became another valuable source of information.
Sanford in Florida
This landscape in watercolor by Hasse Bergman from Florida 1872 shows the Henschen brothers’ homestead by Lake Jesup.
of his letters, equally fascinating. These were addressed to his father and brother, and were somewhat different in style.
Discovering family connections
I was lucky to meet Christine Best, a historical researcher at the Sanford Museum. She had written a small book about the Swedes in Seminole/Orange Counties, and had partial information about Josef and his brothers. Chris and I started a regular and fruitful correspondence. My maternal great-grandfather was Salomon
In 1871, General Henry Shelton Sanford owned 12,000 acres of orange orchards in Seminole County in Florida. The town Sanford is named after this man. He was not happy with his local employees and was looking for a better work force. Wilhelm heard about this, and made a proposal to import Swedish workers for Sanford. Swedes were known to be hard working, honest and able, and Sanford became interested. Wilhelm would go to Sweden, recruit a large number of workers and bring them over to the Sanford plantations. They would work there one year, without salary. In exchange, Sanford would pay their trips to America. Wilhelm also bargained to get some of his own family members over for free. He returned in April 1871 with his brother Esaias, his aunt Sofia, and about 25 Swedish workers, most of them from Uppsala. A few months later Sanford realized he needed more workers, both men and women, and he again turned to Wilhelm. This time Wilhelm was unable to go to Sweden, so he cabled his brother Josef who was still there. Josef was a medical student at Uppsala University but agreed to take a break in his studies. He recruited 36 workers, also from Uppsala, and brought them to America. In November 1871 Josef and his group arrived in Sanford. The Swedes founded the New Upsala settlement, which is the first and largest Swedish colony in the history of Florida (at that time it was still spelled with one “p”). Many Swedish descendants in Florida and other states have
their roots in this group. Today this settlement has become part of Sanford, but there is still an Upsala Road, a Swedish Presbyterian church built in 1892, and a Swedish cemetery. Every year in December there is a big Lucia celebration in Sanford, organized by the two historical museums in the area. It always gets hundreds of visitors. www.sanfordstlucia.com In early 1872 when Josef had delivered the Swedish workers to Sanford, he made a journey by foot down the Atlantic coast, to the area which is now Miami. During this dangerous trip he nearly died of thirst and exposure. He had to run from bears, panthers, alligators and large, poisonous snakes. In the Everglades he visited Seminole Indians and befriended their chief who was 100 years old. Josef had planned to return to his medical studies in Sweden, but he fell in love with Florida and stayed there the rest of his life. He started his own orange orchards, and made a fair amount of money. Some years later he married a Swedish immigrant girl, Carolina Svensson, and they had five children.
Reinventing himself
In the mid-1880s, Josef was approached by four men — Demens, Sweetapple and Taylor. They wanted to build a railroad across Florida from Sanford to Pinellas County on the west coast. Josef became partners with these men and invested all his savings, as well as years of work, into the project. It was named the Orange Belt Railroad. There were many problems and miscalculations with the railroad, and Josef lost all his money. This was a terrible blow for him, and it took him at least a decade to become financially stable again. But because of the railroad, a city grew up at the southern point of Pinellas County. Josef was asked to give it a name, and he named it Saint Petersburg, to honor his Russian partner Demens. In the first years of the Orange Belt, when it was still doing well, its headquarters had been established in Oakland, near Lake Apopka. The town boomed because of the railroad. Josef moved to Oakland in 1886 and resided there with his family for the rest of his life. Henschen Avenue is named after Josef.
Swedish influences
Josef lived in Florida for six decades. He was a leader of the Swedish colony in Orange and Seminole counties. Nobody made any major decisions without first getting his advice — whether it was legal, financial or medical. Josef APRIL 01, 2018 15
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(Top left) The Henschen family in Uppsala, Sweden ca 1869, before Wilhelm, Josef and Esaias immigrated to America. Back row, L-R: Salomon (later professor at the Karolinska Institute), Esaias, Josef, Hanna Lilljebjörn (the fiancee of Wilhelm). Front row: their sister Maria, their father, member of parliament Lars Henschen, Sofia Sjöborg (a cousin), Wilhelm. // (Top right) Josef Henschen 80 years old in Florida, 1923. // (Above) Henschen Avenue, named after Josef Henschen, in Oakland, Florida. Photo: R.Weiss 2005 16 NORDSTJERNAN
always helped anybody who came to him, and he was known as a wise, kind and generous man. For many years he served as the Oakland Postmaster, and as Justice of the Peace. Two of Josef’s grandchildren still lived in Florida as I did my research. One of them was Dr. Joseph Raymond Henschen, who passed away at 94 in 2016 and like his grandfather is a kind and generous person. He and his wife Lois were very helpful when I did my research. Wilhelm Henschen became a Methodist preacher and moved to Chicago in the mid1870s. He was the editor of Sändebudet, the organ for the Swedish Methodist churches in America. He was earlier also involved with Nordstjernan, taking over as editor after Captain Hollers in 1873. The early years were times of turmoil for the newspaper and it seems his tenure as editor lasted for under a year. Wilhelm and his wife Hanna Lilljebjörn had seven children and many grandchildren. Esaias Henschen also married a Swedish girl, Emelia Magnusson. They lived a few years in St. Augustine, Florida, where Esaias was Justice of the Peace. They returned to Sweden where they had children and grandchildren. Their great-granddaughter, the author Kristina Lugn, was recently elected to the Nobel Committee of Literature in Stockholm.
language
w/ord encounters
Traveling in the wrong circles. Or on brooms. I must be traveling in the wrong—or right, depending on your point of view—circles, here down yonder in the South where I am known to mind my own business, though I do offer a friendly hello to the neighbors while I’m out in the garage cleaning my guns. I suppose if I was a real Southerner, and not a Swedish transplant, I would be cleaning my guns inside the house, on the table where the family eats supper—squirrel perhaps, since it’s good and cheap, in plentiful supply to be hunted where the critters leap among the tree branches and go up and down the trunks of old pine trees. Traveling in the wrong circles, KFC, Reba McEntire and because the Swede in me is not a regular churchgoer bring me to the matter at hand. I should have known it is not at all acceptable to have Ms. Reba impersonate the Colonel. In fact, she does it so well that the Colonel is outright attractive, and it is, according to some good folk, not right to have a woman dress like a man. I have learned worse things are being said, but this is a family newspaper, so I will exercise discretion. Having mentioned cross-dressing and religion thus brings me to our Swedish word of the month: påskkärring. The påskkärring (Easter witch) tradition might not go over well here, especially since the word denotes the custom that has Swedish boys dress up as påskkärringar, so they resemble witches with very large red circles on their cheeks, an exaggeration of rouge. Then they get broom sticks and essentially playact as flying witches. According to tradition and folklore, påskkärringar fly to Blåkulla where they celebrate a kind of cabal with the devil, to return to live among the people on Easter Sunday. This is definitely not a custom suitable for the Deep South, where church abuts church and Easter is taken very seriously. In Sweden, witches were not celebrated either, so Sweden does not get a clean slate. Just as they were prosecuted during the Salem witch trials in America, the land of the free, Swedes burned “witches” back in the early days.
pears on account of your breath going into overdrive. What about the etymology of the word? We must, after all, try to remain serious, according to some in our study of language. We turn to SAOB once more (see the footnote about the Swedish word book in last issue’s column) and find the following: KÄRING. (påsk- 1807 osv. påska- 1864—1944)
1) (gammal) kvinna som enl. ä. folktro vid påsken (särsk. på skärtorsdagsnatten l. påsknatten) reste (ridande på en kvast l. en käpp l. en raka o. d.) till Blåkulla för att hålla gästabud med Satan; äv. om bild l. figur föreställande dylik kvinna, särsk. i påskbrev l. på påskkort o. d. (jfr 2); äv. (jfr anm. sp. 2893) om person (särsk. ung flicka) som (i vissa trakter uppträder utklädd vid påsken, särsk. på påskaftonen, o.) föreställer en påskkäring (i ovan angivna bet.); äv. övergående i anv. ss. nedsättande l. (i sht i adresser på påskbrev) skämtsamt öknamn. WESTE (1807). Ifrån alla byar hörde man skjutas .. efter de hemfarande påskkäringarne. AFZELIUS Sag. X. 2: 148 (1866). ”Påskkäring” var (sedan man icke längre trodde på blåkullafärder) ett gemensamt öknamn, under hvilket mindre välkända qvinnor, såsom tjufmjölkerskor .. (m. fl.) gingo och gälde. SUNDBLAD GBruk 171 (1888). Vid påsk klär man ut sig i Värmland .. till påskakäringar. FoF 1916, s. 56. HAGBERG Påskhögt. 101 (1920; i adress på påskbrev). LAGERLÖF BarnM 180 (1930; om figur i påskbrev; om förh. c. 1870). Sedan s. k. påskkäringar i form av miniatyrfigurer börjat saluföras i städer ock andra samhällen. Landsm. B 40: 29 (1940). 2) (jfr anm. sp. 2893) i vissa trakter på påskaftonen iordningställd (o. senare på kvällen uppbränd) större, människoliknande docka föreställande en påskkäring (i bet.1) o. bestående av kläder o. d. som uppstoppats med halm samt utrustad med kvast, raka, väska med påskbrev o. d. LAGERLÖF Berl. 2: 3 (1891). DENS. BarnM 177 (1930; om förh. c. 1870).
Of interest is how relatively late the word appears
It’s not really toil and trouble
Let us turn to something less sinister, the word itself, påskkärring. It is one of those Swedish words every non-native speaker can have fun with pronouncing. It’s a compound noun—the first word is påsk, meaning Easter, and the second meaning old lady, a hag. The k at the end of påsk is a kind of clucking sound, as if someone were imitating chickens or hens while calling them. Add to that immediately another k-sound, which is pronounced as if someone clenched his teeth, sticking out the lower jaw, all the while trying to make a kind of whistling sound to get kärring out. Påskkärring, påskkärring, påskkärring—try saying that in front of the mirror and see how your contorting face disap-
Born in Sweden and raised in Europe and the U.S., Ulf Kirchdorfer is as Swedish American as we come. As a contributing writer for Nordstjernan he has shared eloquent and witty essays on how his Swedishness has influenced his life, reflecting on his childhood with his Swedish grandmother and experiences as an adult in America. You might just see a little of yourself in what he writes, in a collection of essays Kirchdorfer calls Swede Among the Rednecks: The Language That Just Won’t Stay Buried, available from Nordstjernan and through amazon.com. in writing in Swedish. Not until 1807 does the word make its appearance and it is clear that påskkärring does not denote a witch that is taken seriously to the extent that someone will be burned to death, accused of being a witch. The second entry for påskkärring has a more folklorish ring, as we learn that straw effigies resembling witches were burned to celebrate Easter. What an interesting way to allow to exist the old, more “pagan” ways while the influence of Christianity and the meaning of Easter took hold. This column would not be complete without finding something at least slightly out of the ordinary that involves the word being discussed. The newspaper Expressen never fails to disappoint; I found a story about the police department in Lund which issued the following statement last year: ”Lundapolisen meddelar att vi under dagen kontrollerar luftburet otyg och annat räligt med nya hjälpmedel. För er som rör er mer konventionellt på vägarna så uppmanar vi er att vara rädda om er i trafiken. Tålamod, anpassa hastighet och avstånd.” The gist of the PR campaign is that during Easter the police have employed a new tool in their campaign against speeding: the broom of the påskkärring. The text of the article plays second to the photo: a policeman is looking out over the fields and vast skies of southern Sweden, the witch’s broom painted in official police colors. Polisens påskskämt hyllas av tusentals. I can only say that the Swedish police have made Reba McEntire as Colonel Sanders pitching fried chicken look really good.
Photo: Lundapolisen APRIL 01, 2018 17
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They don't say 'break a leg' in Stockholm
by Göran Rygert
The gold foyer with ceiling paintings by Carl Larsson, gold stucco on walls and ceilings, crystal chandeliers, large mirrors and with curtains and furniture coverings in Florentine gold brocade. Photo: Niklas Björling Rygert
Kungliga Operan, the Royal Swedish Opera — in every day speech called “Operan” — is Sweden’s national stage for opera and ballet. It is located on the eastern side of Gustav Adolfs Torg in Stockholm. Operan’s founder was King Gustav III, and the first home for the new opera ensemble was at “Bollhuset,” a theater at Slottsbacken next to the Royal Palace. But there was a need to separate the opera from the theater, which gave birth to a new building: the “Gustavian” opera. It was built in 1782, designed by Swedish architect Carl Fredrik Adelcrantz. It was in the foyer of this building that King Gustav III met his fate. At a masquerade in 1792 he was shot by Jacob Johan Anckarström and died two weeks later. This event inspired Giuseppe Verdi to write the opera, “A Masked Ball” (Maskeradbalen). The building was demolished in 1892 and gave way to the present “Oscarian” opera, designed by Axel Johan Anderberg, inaugurated six years later by King Oscar II. 18 NORDSTJERNAN
Now it’s called “Operan,” the word written in golden letters above the middle arch on the front façade. An elegant marble staircase leads to the concert hall, whose seating capacity is 1,100 people. On the level of the first balcony is the famous gold foyer (Guldfoajén) with ceiling paintings by Carl Larsson. Many of the world’s best opera singers have been part of this opera’s ensemble, such as Jussi Björling, Jenny Lind, Birgit Nilsson and Nicolai Gedda. Its orchestra, “Kungliga Hovkapellet” (the Royal Opera House Orchestra) is one of the oldest orchestras in Europe, dating back to 1526. It is also one of the best.
The future
The opera building is currently in great need of modernization. The back stage space is too limited and too narrow for large stage props. But it is not easy to extend the building. To the west is Gustav Adolfs Torg. To the north is Jacob’s Church and to the south a street and the water, Norrström. It may be possible to extend to the east, toward the park Kungsträdgården. Voices have since long ago urged for a new opera house, but the government decided in 2013 not to
build a new one. Instead the existing opera building will be renovated and extended — which, by the way, is going to cost almost as much as a new building. In September 2017 the architects Ahrbom and Partner in cooperation with the Danish company Lundgaard Tranberg Arkitekter got the assignment to design “a renewed national theatre for opera and ballet.” The goal was described as “a new opera in the Opera,” which includes making the building more open and accessible for the public. In addition to this challenge there is another: Operan is currently renting a large space in Nacka, called Gäddviken, in which large workrooms for building scenes and sets, and also rehearsal spaces as well as a stage, are located. The city of Nacka is planning to build apartments on these premises and has given Operan notice of termination of the contract by 2022. So another such space is needed. Four districts around Stockholm are interested in providing new premises, or land for it. A decision must be made soon, there’s no time to lose. It will be interesting to see what the architects will come up with. An extension toward
Swedish tenor Niklas Björling Rygert, the son of Göran Rygert, was active in music, theater, radio and television already as a small child. As a professional, he made his debut as an opera singer in 1994 and has belonged to Sweden’s Royal Opera since 1999, where he has sung more than 700 performances in 44 productions. His international fame took him to Spain in 2008 under the direction of Zubin Mehta, with whom he continues to work regularly. Niklas has made guest appearances on opera stages in Madrid, Frankfurt, Dresden, Amsterdam and Florence. In September 2017, he sang the main role of Martinu’s opera “The Greek Passion,” for which Svenska Dagbladet wrote: “The most fun was to hear Niklas Björling Rygert, who for many years has been one of Kungliga Operan’s favored soloists, shining his bright light in a starring role.” Niklas Björling Rygert was the recipient of the magazine Opera award this year. The tenor received the prize, voted by the magazine’s readers, for his contribution as Mime in the Ring of the Nibelung at the Royal Opera in Stockholm. Opera wrote: “Niklas Björling Rygert makes a significant contribution as Siegfried-Mime … a world-class portrayal by a singer. He is one of the truly big opera personalities today.“ The exterior of the Royal Swedish Opera as seen from the south over Norrbro bridge.
Kungsträdgården would mean the famous restaurants Operakällaren and Café Opera have to look around for new homes — something many Stockholmers will surely strongly object to. And what are the Opera’s plans while the building is closed during construction? Increased opera tours is one thing. And some operas could be performed in less-used theaters in Stockholm as well, such as Circus at Djurgården.
Behind the scenes
Operan has more than 500 employees, singers, dancers, musicians and everyone else; 200 employees work just to make sure things don’t go wrong in production. Behind the scenes is a world not much known by the regular opera-goer. To make performances run smoothly, the stage is equipped with advanced technology, movable floor parts and a fly system of 75 bars for the hanging of backgrounds and other things. A prompter works continuously during every entire performance, including many musical parts. An opera prompter must be very musical, familiar with many languages and have a long experience in opera.
In the wigmaker’s workshop about 3,500 wigs are stored and maintained. About 300 new wigs are made annually. It takes at least four days to make one wig. In the tailoring workshop 1,000 to 1,500 costumes are made each year. The need of fabric and material for soloists, choristers and walkers-on is large — for instance about 400 yards of tulle are used to dress the 40 swans in Swan Lake. In addition, about 100,000 costumes and 10,000 pairs of shoes are stored in wardrobe, and that doesn’t even include the department for historical costumes.
Backstage secrets (shhhhh)
There are a lot of stories from behind the scenes that are rarely told outside the opera. I have collected a few of them, just for the readers of Nordstjernan. The audition. A tenor was about to audition for legendary director John Forsell. The tenor asked if it would be OK to take off his jacket. To that, Forsell answered, “You can take off your pants too, if you think you’ll sing better!” The bar. Acclaimed opera singer Miah Persson
was part of Mozart’s Figaro’s Wedding. One evening while singing an aria she heard a noise coming from above. She wondered if it was something to be worried about and if she should move backward, forward or just stay where she was. She decided to take a step forward. And in next second a heavy cylinder from the fly system above fell behind her with a great crash, just where she had been standing. She could thank her lucky stars! The glasses. In the 1990s opera director Bengt Hall introduced a nice novelty that became a tradition: soloists on stage on opening night get a beautiful glass from Reijmyre glasbruk, with the name of the opera and date inscribed on it. Niklas, my son, a tenor, has received 30 of these glasses so far. The Royal Opera-House Orchestra. The old conductor said to his young colleague who made his first appearance: “Kungliga Hovkapellet is a pretty good orchestra, only if you don’t disturb them!” Bunting. Unexpected things happen when animals are on the stage. Bunting was a white horse, APRIL 01, 2018 19
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Goes without saying that King Oskar II planned for his own entrance on the side of the building.
renowned for his roll as “Lilla gubben” in the Pippi Longstocking movies, in which he got black dots glued on him to be like Pippi’s horse. In a scene in Carmen at Operan, Carmen (Edith Thallaug) and Escamillo (Rolf Jupither) entered the stage, riding Bunting. Carmen jumped off first and Escamillo followed immediately to start singing the aria “Yes, I Love You Carmen.” But at that moment Bunting turned around 180 degrees, so the singer had to start his love song to Carmen with his back turned to her and with the horse between him and Carmen. That was not exactly what they rehearsed. Maybe Bunting had decided to get out and look for Pippi. The sink. Operan did a new production of Wagner’s Parsifal, directed by a famous German director and his team of stage designers, dramaturge, choreographer, etc. The opera’s cast wanted to invite them to a typical Swedish crawfish party — typical also insofar as schnapps was consumed, which is a must with crawfish. The party took place in the soloists’ foyer. It was a nice evening. But a guest joining the party had obviously enjoyed one schnapps too many and was not seen after a while, so people thought he left. Later on, Niklas, who was the soloists’ klubbmästare (organizer of parties), was cleaning glasses in the kitchen when a colleague came by and wondered why he was splashing that much water on the floor. “I’m just wiping the glasses,” Niklas said as they noticed water coming from under the door 20 NORDSTJERNAN
of a nearby toilet. Niklas opened the door and found the tipsy guest soaking wet, trying to hold back water from bursting pipes. The broken off sink was on the floor. When he saw Niklas he let go and the water spouted uncontrolled. Niklas called for help and someone found a screwdriver. This toilet was the only one in the building that did not yet have modern shut-off devices installed and the water had to be shut off with a screwdriver. Eventually the water leak was stopped after a huge amount of water had leaked, causing great damage, including in the opera director’s conference room, which was totally destroyed. In the floor below several rooms were completely destroyed. The cost of repair totaled about $150,000. Since this event a new expression was coined. Instead of saying “break a leg” the Stockholm Opera soloists now say “break a sink.” Complicated music. A conductor said to an old character tenor: “This section is very complicated. We need eye contact, you have to watch me!” And the tenor answered: “I have not watched a conductor for 25 years. Besides my
glasses are still in my dressing room.” Rå 75. There are 75 wooden bars on the stage for hanging backgrounds, lights etc. Such a thing is called a “rå.” Rå 75 is located in the very back and is hardly ever used. But many years ago it was used to hide booze. They simply hoisted up a box containing all sorts of bottles to prevent janitors and managers from finding spirits in other places. Rå 76. “Rå 76” does not exist. So when the working day is over people say “Nu är det rå 76” (Now it’s rå 76) — it’s time to go home! Göran Rygert, architect, musician, writer. Born in Sweden and residing in Atlanta, GA since 1993. Rygert worked for many years in Skanska’s architects department in Sweden and was a freelance editor for Warner/Chappell Music Scandinavia. He appears in several musical connections, such as the Atlanta Balalaika Society and music groups; the Vasa Drängar is a men’s choir he founded in 1996. He has released a CD, “Visituder” with his own compositions.
art and culture
Movie review:
Bergman's radical Persona Who are you? How do you know? asks the psychological drama, one of Ingmar Bergman's masterpieces. Ingmar Bergman’s film Persona (1966) is one of his supreme masterpieces. Biographer and film critic Peter Cowie noted (rather like Newton’s universal law of physics), for every opinion (action), there is an equal and opposite reaction. Certainly what is distinctive in all critiques are the unique montages that distinguish this film. These are carefully explained frame-by-frame and as a sequence by Cowie in his introduction to the recent Criterion Collection of Bergman films in time for this centennial, and by Bruce Kawin’s Mindscreen book. It is useful to remember the circumstances of the film’s inception. Bergman had signed on Bibi Andersson to star in a film that he was intending to make, when he met Liv Ullman and offered her a bit part in that film. Shortly after, he became ill and was hospitalized; during his convalescence, Bergman had an epiphany. He tossed out the original script and began conceptualizing a new one starring both Bibi and Liv. He did this while still in the hospital, with all the ideas that brought him. He completed the screenplay and started shooting Persona two weeks later.
Montages
Persona opens with an introductory montage that gives an eye-blinking summary of film history, themes and technology, including the projection of images. This prologue begins with arcing rods, which originally illuminated projectors, heating up and producing the light to project the film’s images like “Fiat Lux.” In this first part there are many “eyeblink images,” and it appears the film derails and seems to burn up. This was so significant in the original showings of the film that the reels were shipped to theaters with warning labels notifying projectionists to disregard the effect of the projector burning the film. That itself is another key to this film: distinguishing between reality and artifice. The initial montage symbolically reveals that Bergman was planning another typical movie. Then he jettisoned that for an entirely new presentation, one allowing him to closely examine the psychology of his two main characters, who look similar. He even includes a shot from a hospital morgue where a supposedly dead boy wakes up on a gurney, trying to make sense of his whereabouts and wipes his hand across the lens/screen as he tries to make out a blurred face,
Bibi Andersson and Liv Ullman in a recognized scene from Persona (Ingmar Bergman, 1966).
which is the merged superimposition of Andersson and Ullmann’s faces, one of several iconic photos from this film. All that was the creativity of the director in the editing room. When Andersson and Ullmann were each shown this photo, their first reactions were to pity how strange the other looked, without at first appreciating the symbolic overlay. Nykvist and Bergman purposely combined the less attractive half of each actress’s face. There has been much discussion of this initial montage. Midway through the film, after the two characters recognize each other as opponents, the film symbolically again splits and burns, indicating the severity of their split and the reformation of this pair. And at the end, among the shots in the final montage, is a photo of Bergman and cinematographer Sven Nykvist behind the camera shooting this film. Again, we are reminded of the distinction between fiction and fact, and that fiction may creatively mirror or rearrange the meanings behind a fact, making its significance clearer and more compelling. This novel technique marks a new beginning for Bergman and his company in telling stories through film. Bergman is clearly making the filming of this story itself obvious (like DuChamps’ 1917 Fountain urinal). It is not “existential reality” as we experience it, it is a narrator’s reality created for us to better appreciate a message from a new perspective — an “artificial reality” created by art and craft.
The story
Persona follows Elisabet Vogler (Liv Ullmann), an accomplished actress who stars in a play but
stops mid-dialogue and goes completely silent. After several days of silence she is hospitalized, and the supervising doctor makes two decisions: She assigns her young nurse Alma (Bibi Andersson) to tend to Elisabet and later decides the two women may stay at her isolated beachfront home where the solitude may help Elisabet’s recovery. A fateful moment not many critics refer to is when the doctor reveals Elisabet’s diagnosis: “I understand why you don’t speak, why you don’t move, why you’ve created a part for yourself out of apathy. I understand. I admire. You should go on with this part until it is played out, until it loses interest for you. Then you can leave it, just as you’ve left your other parts one by one.” As we experience the film we remember this professional explanation. We see that Elisabet is not merely willful (rather than psychotic) — reinforced by her study of Alma as revealed in an open letter — but also that this is a phase that at any moment Elisabet can end in order to fashion another role for herself. What is unpredictable (and likely not even considered by the character) is how her experiences during this period of silence will affect her next phase or role and the rest of her life. The main part of the story concerns the women’s time at the beach house. Elisabet is silent but pleasant; Alma is talkative and caring. They seem to form a bond of friendship, but the silence begins to wear on Alma. When she discovers Elisabet has betrayed her confidence, the roles reverse and Alma sets aside her caregiving duties and pursues Elisabet to break her silence and breakthrough her “persona.” Continues on next page APRIL 01, 2018 21
art and culture
Continued from previous page
Passion
The women’s relationship becomes more passionate after each character exposes her vulnerabilities to the other. The first half of the film is essentially a time of bliss and companionship. Elisabet also receives a letter from her estranged husband who wishes to work on repairing their marriage. Alma offers to read the letter to her, and while this is necessary for us to learn background on Elisabet, it seems that so secretive a woman would not permit this view of another aspect of her life. The letter includes a photo of their son. When Alma hands it to Elisabet, she looks at the photo and tears it in half, keeping the pieces. This is shocking to Alma — and the viewer. Alma confides in Elisabet, confessing an erotic experience in her life, claiming she never enjoyed such sex before or since, which also resulted in an abortion she kept a secret from her fiancé. As time goes on we see the effect Elisabet is having on Alma. She imagines Elisabet caringly com-
municating to her softly, and Bergman, like Alma herself, does not distinguish between dreaming and wakened reality— to Alma all is reality. In one scene we see Elisabet go into Alma’s bedroom, stand behind her and turn Alma’s head in profile beside her own. This poster shot, one of several iconic images of this film, indicates how similar these two women are, after which they nuzzle their necks in affection. Later both women are in bed as Alma breaks into tears saying that it is so difficult to distinguish what is real and what to do. The scene the next morning is equally striking and significant. Alma is off in the distance while Elisabet enters into full view in the foreground— and focusing on the audience, she snaps our photo. Now the audience is equally and fully complicit in deciphering what is real. Soon Alma rejoins Elisabet and the nurse asks the patient two pregnant questions: Did you speak to me last night (at the table)? Elisabet shakes her head and mouths “no” with a look of curiosity about the question; next Alma asks, “Did you visit me in my bedroom last night?” Later, the two go into town and Alma offers to mail a letter for Elisabet (left unsealed by Elisabet—on purpose?). Her curiosity leads her to read it and she learns that Elisabet has lied to her. Alma feels betrayed and screams at Elisabet. Later Alma shatters a wine glass in the garden but saves a shard of glass and places it where Elisabet will step on it. She even watches Elisabet come and go several times without getting hurt. But when the shard finally pierces Elisabet’s foot and she cries out, she looks at Alma and in that exchange the film “breaks” into the middle montage where the film is seen to catch on fire. Now the tables are turned. In the second half of the film, Alma hears someone outside. She finds Mr. Vogler, and he confuses Alma for his wife Elisabet, whom he has come to gain reconciliation with. Even as Alma protests that she is not Elisabet, and Elisabet gets behind Alma (rather as in their nighttime dream sequence) and caresses the man’s face with Alma’s hand, Mr. Vogler takes Alma to bed. The audience interprets this as another of Alma’s dreams or visions of alternative reality. This is but another clue from
Augusta’s Daughter Ever wonder what made so many emigrate from Sweden in the nineteenth century? Judit Martin’s novel, “Augusta’s Daughter,” about 19th century Swedish peasant life made such an impression on us, we decided to offer it to the Nordstjernan readership. call 1.800.827.9333 for your own copy ($24.90 incl. S&H to cont. U.S.). The sequel,
Kajsa
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Bergman to help us understand the two characters as alternating versions of a single person. But the most astounding scene is of dueling monologues. At first the camera is focused upon Elisabet as Alma explains how Elisabet became pregnant, tried to have an abortion, and finally after the baby’s birth wished he was dead because a baby threatened her acting career. She abandoned him, yet the boy loved his mother. During this accurate depiction, Elisabet tries to be stoic, to deny all, but reacts to the charges. What makes the duel so striking is that Bergman repeats the entire monologue this time focused upon Alma. Obviously, Alma could not intuit, let alone know, all these facts, unless they are one and the same person. In the end, before Alma abandons her charge, Alma repeats to Elisabet: “I’m not like you. I don’t feel like you. I’m Sister Alma, I’m just here to help you. I’m not Elisabet Vogler. You are Elisabet Vogler.” Before the montage that concludes the film, we see Alma pack up and board a bus that will let her escape from this hell. She returns to the communal world of the living, where people exist and survive by speaking and sharing their daily experiences. Presumably she returns to life with Karl Henrik and they will have children. Presumably the experience has taught her to live and communicate with others, as humans do, which makes existence bearable and even enjoyable.
Pairings
Bergman typically uses pairings of words or images to reinforce his meanings. One of the earliest of these is the horror in her silence as Elisabet sees two visual images. Isolated in her hospital room, she is watching television and notices a news clip of a Vietnamese Buddhist monk’s self-immolation in protest of the American war in Vietnam. While horrified by the pain suffered in silence, with great discipline unto death by the burning monk, Elisabet shrinks into a corner of the room, frightened, with mouth agape. We imagine she is stunned by the spectacle and pities the circumstances that brought the monk to make this gesture, and we
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art and culture also suppose Elisabet must measure her own act of defiance compared with this one. The matching image, during her stay at the beach house, is when Elisabet comes across another famous photo of a boy and family with raised hands being herded by a shouting mob, as the Germans round up Jews during the Holocaust, which similarly will likely end in the execution of these fellow humans. Bergman has selected these two photos of different wars to show not merely the innocent victims, but also the fury and support of their neighbors which allows this horror. There are other pairings of images, emphasizing Alma’s erotic narration, her hope for children and a normal family, Elisabet’s pregnancy and motherhood, and the silent “persona” of Elisabeth and the talkative “soul” of Alma—all reasons for considering two The Year of Bergman 2018 celebrates the rich legacy of the Swedish filmmaker, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday on July 14, 2018.
www.ingmarbergman.se
Ingmar Bergman 100 screenings California BAMPFA, 2155 Center St., Berkeley, 510.642.0808 / www.bampfa.org 04.1, 4:30 PM: The Magician 04.6, 7:30 PM: Crisis 04.8, 3 PM: Crisis 04.13, 7:30 PM: A Ship Bound for India 04.15, 3PM: A Ship Bound for India 04.20, 7:30 PM: Music in the Dark 04.22, 3 PM: Music in the Dark Massachusetts Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity St., Amherst, 413.253.2547 / www.amherstcinema.org/series/ ingmar-bergman 04.1, 2 PM Wild Strawberries
halves of ourselves, seen from opposite perspectives.
Confronting a classic
Adding up all of these elements—the story and filming, the superb acting (imagine Liv Ullmann making her initial appearance starring in a Bergman film with only three words!) and the intense and prolonged close-up shots, the montages and symbolic composite photo, the interplay between external reality and perceptions—what can we make of this film? It is important that we put the film in its historic context. There are other famous examples of multiple, simultaneous perspectives (Resnais’ Last Year at Marienbad (1961); Kurosawa’s Throne of Blood (1957)), requiring the viewer to make sense of conflicting views and confronting ambiguity. One distinction is that such art films require the
viewer to accept it as part of one’s education. Some movies are mere entertainment, and other classics may be meaningful and superbly filmed without requiring such introspection. Some may be difficult to understand and bear repeated viewing, each time providing more enlightenment, if merely to admit that it is a classic. For Alma, and for us, this experience—of the story and of the film—is transformative. We do not live alone. And only as we care for others, do we live. Persona is one of Bergman’s great masterpieces. Ted Olsson
04.4, 7 PM Wild Strawberries 04.8, 2 PM The Virgin Spring 04.11, 7 PM The Virgin Spring 04.15, 2 PM Persona 04.18, 7 PM Persona 04.22, 2 PM Cries and Whispers 04.25, 7 PM Cries and Whispers Michigan Detroit Film Theatre, 5200 Woodward Ave., 313.833.7900 / www.dia.org/events 04.21, 2 PM: The Magician Ohio Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque, 11610 Euclid Ave., University Circle, 216.421.7450 / cinema@cia.edu / www.cia.edu/cinematheque 04.19, 9 PM: Shame 04.21, 5 PM: Shame 04.26, 6:45 PM: Cries and Whispers 04.28, 7:40 PM: Cries and Whispers Washington, DC The Kennedy Center, 2700 F Street, NW, 202.467.4600 / www.kennedy-center.org 04.19-22 After the Rehearsal/Persona
Pomona’s Lost Children, A Book of Uncommon Antique Fruits By Jay Stratton
Jay Stratton’s book is a comfortable mix of memories, facts, trivia and hundreds of recipes, but also a revelation for a variety of reasons. If you grew up in the countryside or with access to a summerhouse or garden in Sweden, you have most likely grown up around red and black currant bushes along with gooseberries, elderberries and all sorts of other fruits that these days, as we’ve learned, are considered super berries. Having grown up in upstate New York, it turns out Stratton’s childhood was all about these widely forgotten fruits and berries—and quite a few we weren’t aware of, such as the Jostaberry, the Pawpaw or the Saskatoon.
“The mix of tips on growing, on cooking with memories, mythology and ethnobotany of Pomona’s Lost Children makes it an easy read and the hundreds of recipes are a welcome bonus.”
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Vart är vi på väg? En del äldre människor blir gråtmilda när de tänker tillbaka på hur det var förr. I minnet blir händelser som fått tid på sig att sjunka in i kroppen ofta behagligare än de stunder vi för tillfället lever i. Olle Wijkström Den ljuva tiden lever ofta kvar i våra hjärtan. Somrarna vi minns var ständigt varmare. Riktiga tomtar fanns också. De delade ut julklappar när ljusen tändes i våra granar. De första jordgubbarna var sötare än de är nu. Det gick på många sätt lugnare till att leva. Somrarna var längre. Nu skall allting gå fortare. Kokosbollar kostade bara hälften så mycket. Det fanns alltid jobb att få efter skolan. Egendomligt nog lyckades de flesta skaffa sig ett arbete innan Arbetsförmedlingens tillkomst. I själva verket var den gångna tiden inte lika underbar som vi ibland vill minnas. Det regnade även då. Elakheter människor emellan förekom. Folk var stundtals grymma mot varandra. Vi bör även erinra oss att skönhet fanns. Liljekonvaljerna slog ut och doftade på ängarna i maj. Men i minnena lever trots allt kvar stämningar från ungdomen om att forna ljuvligheter var finare. Underhållningen har blivit fränare om man så vill. Eller uppriktigare. För ett antal decennier sedan chockerade en ung jänta vid namns Alice Babs omgivningen med att
sjunga ”Swing it magistern”. Det var ovanligt att en skolflicka uppmanade sin magister på det sättet. I dessa dagar behövs fräckare uppmaningar för att chockera. Numera kan vi knappast tänka oss att utbrista i en snällare uppmaning än ”Swing it”. Från kvällar i TV minns vi Astrid Lindgrens olika uppsättningar, Pippi Långstrump, Saltkråkan och Emil i Lönneberga. När Emil hade gjort ett hyss sprang han och gömde sig i snickarboden. Emils hyss var barnsligt roliga och oskyldiga. Emil nöjde sig med att hissa sin syster i flaggstången. Emil varken stal eller använde sig av berusande droger som många av nutidens ungdomar. I Saltkråkan träffade vi pappa Helmer. ”Varför badar du, farbror Helmer, alltid med kläderna på” frågade Tjorven, när farbror Helmer råkade ramla i sjön från bryggan. Vilket han ofta gjorde. Det kändes vänligt och varmt att vara med på Saltkråkan. Tjorvens stora lufsande hund hade världens snällaste ögon. Mycket vi minns får oss att le. I dagens tidningar läser jag om tråkigheter av allehanda slag. Många svenska ungdomar har det besvärligt förstår jag av artiklar och TV-program. Många har kommit i otakt med tillvaron och mår synnerligen tjyvens. De känner ångest och är rådvilla. Köerna till psykologer, läkare och själarnas kuratorer är långa. Självmorden lär öka bland ungdomar. Vart är vi på väg?
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local events
Swedish Prime Minister at the White House On March 6, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven was in Washington, DC and met with President Trump for a bilateral meeting that included the Swedish Minister for Enterprise and Innovation Mikael Damberg, Ambassador Karin Olofsdotter, other high level Swedish officials and a delegation of business leaders from Saab, Ericsson, Volvo Group and Astra Zeneca. With the prospect of potential new steel and aluminum tariffs announced just days before the meeting was scheduled, the emphasis on transatlantic trade and economic relations – and especially the involvement of business leaders outside the political establishment – seemed prescient. Prime Minister Löfven was already prepared to make the case that Swedish businesses and trade with Swedish consumers creates nearly a million jobs in the United States. That number comes from an updated report authored by the Embassy of Sweden in the United States and the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce: Sweden Creates Jobs in America. That study also reports that Foreign Direct Investment by Sweden in the United States has more than doubled over the past decade. With steel and aluminum tariffs pending, Prime Minister Löfven had to shoulder the additional responsibility of being a spokesperson for the EU’s adamant opposition to trade barriers between the U.S. and the European Union. Sweden’s trade relations with the United States are negotiated as part of the EU bloc: an argument for creating an exemption for Sweden must be an argument for exempting the entire European Union from tariffs. While the exact impact of the tariffs is the subject of much debate, economists are largely in agreement that it will likely hurt foreign exporters and raise costs of consumer products in the United States. Prime Minister Löfven stressed what they had in common politically and personally: highlighting their status as political outsiders and champions of the common man as well as the long history of friendship between the two countries that translates today into
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Trade and Economic Investment in Focus as Prime Minister Stefan Löfven Meets President Donald Trump at the White House
robust economic and defense ties. That message may have hit home with President Trump, who seemed in high spirits as he started the joint press conference with some good-natured ribbing about Olympics curling (the American team upset the Swedish curlers in the final) and the reflection that “Sweden is one of our oldest and closest partners, and was among the first European nations to offer the United States an unsolicited treaty of friendship — a treaty signed, believe it or not, in 1783. That’s a long time ago.” President Trump also praised the business The bilateral meeting included the Swedish Minister for leaders he had met with earlier, calling them Enterprise and Innovation Mikael Damberg, Ambassador “some of the great executives in the world,” Karin Olofsdotter, other high level Swedish officials and a delegation of business leaders from Saab, Ericsson, Volvo and praising their impact on the United Group and Astra Zeneca. States, saying “They’re investing tremendous amounts of money in the United States and support- specifically crediting them with bringing home Otto ing, also, vocational training for American workers. Warmbier, an American student imprisoned by the We are grateful for those investments, and we are North Korean regime in 2016 and returned to the committed to working with Sweden to pursue even United States in a coma in 2017. greater economic cooperation.” Trade and economic investment remained in focus Prime Minister Löfven did not hesitate, however, for the rest of Prime Minister Löfven’s visit. Ambasto make his voice heard on the areas in which they sador Karin Olofsdotter hosted him and members do not agree, most notably, in relation to tariffs. He of his at a jubilee dinner at the House of Sweden, said, “Swedish prosperity is built on cooperation, celebrating the 200 years of diplomatic relations competitiveness, and free trade, and I am convinced between Sweden and the United States. that increased tariffs will hurt us all in the long run. The following day the Swedish delegation traveled And as a Swede, I, of course, support the efforts of to two Swedish businesses creating jobs in the United the European Union to achieve trade with fewer States: Astra Zeneca-owned MedImmune and also obstacles and as few as possible.” Volvo Trucks, where the Prime Minister even had President Trump also thanked Prime Minister the opportunity to drive a Mack truck (acquired by Löfven and Sweden repeatedly for their role as a Volvo in 2000). mediator between the United States and North Korea, Kate Reuterswärd
news in brief
Swedish News Husqvarna bikes are back
After a 50-year break, Husqvarna is rolling out its bicycle brand again. Husqvarna Group joins the German bicycle company Pexco to launch a new brand of electric bicycles, Husqvarna Bicycles. Mountain, touring and city bikes, all with a variety of engine models, will be offered to the growing Swedish market. The brand is available in Germany and Austria, but now 35 different electric bicycle models will be launched in Sweden as well. For more info, see www.facebook. com/husqvarna.bicycles
Bringing local insight
Swedish startup Triple was founded in 2016 and initially funded by several Spotify veterans. Their business plan is to let tourists experience cities in the same way the locals do. Anyone who travels to a city will be able to find locals who are ready to take them on guided tours against payment via Triple’s app. This is done by matching travelers with city or resort residents who take them on, for example, a boat trip in the Stockholm archipelago. For more info, see www.triple.co
Future city-based agriculture
Vertical cultivation is part of Plantagon’s vision of making cities more self-sufficient by creating urban agriculture through technology for greenhouse cultivation in urban environments. The SwedishAmerican company integrates agriculture, tech and architecture into: agritechture. “Our system requires 99.7 percent less water [than if you grow outdoors]. And all our water is recycled,” says company spokesperson Sepehr Mousavi. The company recently invited prospective investors to a vegetable dip and blind test of “homegrown vs. bought at the store” at its offices on the 21st floor of the so-called DN. Plantagon was started in 2008 and by April 2018 they will produce a crop that for the first time can be sold in grocery stores. www.plantagon.com
Bernadottes’ bicentennial baby
Mini farm at home
Ikea’s innovation lab Space10 in Copenhagen has developed a mini farm that could make it possible to produce crops at home. Space10 recently presented the prototype that has the Swedish-sounding name Lokal in a post on the blog site Medium. It is built with climate-controlled boxes where crops grow under LEDs. The newly developed system uses 90 percent less water and the plant process is almost three times as fast as if the cultivation had taken place outdoors. It will be a long time before the prototype reaches the consumer but the system was also shown in conjunction with the 2017 London Design Festival in Shoreditch (www.londondesignfestival.com). For more info on Space10, “the living lab,” see www.space10.io
Blockchain for digital assets
The Swedish government agency Lantmäteriet has been testing blockchain technology for two years and is now planning to conduct property sales transactions with it. Blockchain technology is being used in various ways around the world, and now Sweden’s land-ownership authority will use it. Lantmäteriet already has a digitized, paperless system that allows individuals to sign contracts to register sales in three to six months, but blockchain technology could make the process take just a matter hours.
HKH Princess Madeleine and her husband Chris O’Neill welcomed their third child, a baby girl, on March 9 in Stockholm. On March 12, the baby’s grandfather HM King Carl XVI Gustaf officially announced her name, revealing she will be known as Adrienne Josephine Alice, the Duchess of Blekinge. The new princess is the seventh grandchild of the reigning King and Queen; she is number 10 in line for the Swedish throne. She joins the Bernadotte family during its bicentennial year, making it the largest of Europe’s royal families. The Bernadottes are also longest reigning royal family. March 12 was the day of the Te Deum service in the royal chapel honoring Princess Adrienne’s birth. The Te Deum is an old church ceremony of thanksgiving that takes place in royal contexts at major March 12 was also Crown events in the royal house. Princess Victoria’s namesday.
Swimming upstream
While much of the world is worrying about melting ice sheets and thermal expansion raising sea levels, the Baltic coasts of Sweden and Finland are experiencing the opposite: sea levels that are actually falling. But while the sea level is falling, not all land is rising at the same rate, causing a slight “tilting” of land - enough to affect river flow, and leading to more frequent lowland flooding when snow melts every spring.
Built for start-up success
Stockholm has become one of the world’s brightest tech start-up hubs, having produced more billion dollar companies (the so-called unicorns) per capita than anywhere other than Silicon Valley in California. Marta Sjögren, a partner at Northzone VC in Stockholm (an early investor in Spotify) says there are some unique characteristics underpinning Sweden’s business success, the most intriguing aspect being one that comes despite the country’s generous welfare system.”(Entrepeneurs) have this amazing safety net, great social structures. There is no real reason to become an entrepreneur,” she says, adding that the system seems to weed out those who aren’t in it for a quick buck. “This leaves only the determined perfectionists. People who are only doing it because they really, really, really want to,” says Sjögren.
35th Annual Sacramento Scandinavian Festival Saturday, April 21, 2018 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Scandinavian Food, Baked Goods and Merchandise • Information about the Nordic Countries • Music, Entertainment and Door Prizes • Scandinavian Folk Dancing and Exhibits • Children’s Area with Arts & Crafts Outside - Viking Camp and Ship
SCOTTISH RITE MASONIC CENTER 6151 H St, Sacramento, CA 95819 (near Sac State) Adults $5 • Children under 12 free www.facebook.com/SacramentoScandinavianFestival/ PLEASE NOTE: Some food items may sell out early
APRIL 01, 2018 27
sports
Zlatan show could land in LA The biggest story in Swedish soccer isn’t whether Malmö FF can win a third-straight Allsvenskan title, or if Östersund can repeat its dream run to the Swedish Cup or even if the Swedish World Cup squad will feature any players from the domestic league. The biggest story in Swedish football is, once more, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, which is just the way he likes it. Speculation is rampant that the star football player plans to join the U.S.-based Major League Soccer this summer, with the Los Angeles Galaxy the oddson favorite to land the former Swedish international. Currently under contract with Manchester United, Zlatan continues to rehab from yet another knee injury and has played just seven times this season for his Premier League club. United manager Jose Mourinho fueled the speculation March 11 when he told The Guardian he expects the Swede to leave England when his contract runs out this summer. “For Zlatan, we all think it’s his last season at Manchester United and it will be a very personal decision for him to play or to stop,” Mourinho said. “I think he has won the right of choosing his life, his future, such an amazing player and amazing career ... only that awful injury in the wrong moment broke a fantastic couple of seasons he could and should have with us.”
West coast next?
Ibrahimovic scored 28 goals last season for Manchester but also underwent his third ACL surgery last summer. He spent part of his rehab looking at houses in Bel Air and Beverly Hills, and told Stockholm daily Expressen that MLS was a possibility when he decides to leave European football. “I did not know that several Swedes went to MLS. That means it’s tempting to play in the United States,” Ibrahimovic said, adding that his knee felt “good.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates his 50th career goal for Sweden in 2016, his final year playing for the Swedish national team. Photo: Joel Marklund/Bildbyrån
ESPN reported in January that Zlatan and the Galaxy were close to a contract, with a potential deal “the furthest along it has ever been,” after the Swede was also linked to MLS before signing with United in the summer of 2016. For now, however, Zlatan says he plans to fiish his contract with United and see what the future holds. “Los Angeles is a nice city and I’ve been there a lot on vacation. It is laid back. There is nothing more to say. I would have told you if there was
anything. I think there are rumors all the time [about my future]. When I play and when I do not play, there are rumors. That’s good, that means I’m alive.” The MLS primary transfer remains open until May 1, and a secondary window opens on July 10. Chipp Reid
Chilled for freshness, no matter where it’s sold. GeneralSnus.com/Find
WARNING: Smokeless tobacco is addictive. 28 NORDSTJERNAN
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